Lennox Lewis has one fight on his mind - and it's not his defence against unbeaten European Champion Zeljko Mavrovic in Connecticut tonight. For Lewis, the World Boxing Council (WBC) heavyweight champion, the Croatian is just one more obstacle in his path to a unification title fight with the International Boxing Federation (IBF) and World Boxing Association (WBA) titleholder Evander Holyfield.
But he is quick to stress that he's not taking the Mavrovic fight lightly. In fact, it's just the opposite.
"If I lose this fight, there is no Holyfield fight. That's what helps motivate me," said the Englishman, who has lost only once in 34 contests and who has stopped 27 opponents inside the distance.
"I have to beat Zeljko Mavrovic. He's the person who stands in my way right now."
Lewis' trainer, Emanuel Steward, calls Mavrovic, undefeated in 27 fights with 22 wins inside the distance, "the most dangerous fighter he has faced in the four years I have been working with him".
Mavrovic is little known in the United States, and Lewis plans to keep it that way.
"I realise I'm fighting the European champion and he has not lost a fight," Lewis said.
"I'm not going to allow him to make his name off Lennox Lewis.
Close up to Mavrovic, the 29-year-old with the Mohican hairstyle is a surprisingly engaging character. Undefeated in 27 professional fights, including seven when the European title was at stake, he is currently the Croatian equivalent to the BBC Sports Personality of the Year.
Apologising for his halting English, he says: "The party will be very good, very big if I win. Croatia does good in sport this year. We come third in the World Cup, Goran Ivanisevic come second at Wimbledon and now I win. It will make me very proud for my country.
"I work for 11 months for this fight and am boxing for 14 years. I am ready."
His trainer is a well-known figure in British boxing, Darkie Smith. After a long and profitable partnership, Smith has affection in his eyes as he says: "Zeljko is everything that I respect in a man. Outside the ring he is kind and gentle. In Zagreb he cannot go anywhere without being stopped in the street, but he is always patient and ready to talk to people.
"And in the ring he is a great fighter. Some people who have not seen him will be surprised. He is an athlete. He can run, throw the javelin, play basketball and football. More than that, he can box well enough to win.
"Lennox thinks we are going to run for 12 rounds. He is wrong. He talks about how 11 months' training will not make Zeljko's chin any stronger, but he is the one who should be worrying about his weak chin."
