Boxing: Early warning for Lewis from Steward

For six minutes in Las Vegas on Friday night Lennox Lewis may face a crucial test in his career. His mentor and trainer, Emanuel Steward, sees it that way; Lewis, apparently, does not.

"I'll be in control, don't worry," Lewis said calmly at Johnny Tocco's gymnasium in downtown Las Vegas after one of his final work-outs.

Steward believes the first two rounds of his campaign to regain the World Boxing Council heavyweight championship at Hilton Centre will be his most dangerous when Oliver McCall is certain to come out quickly from the other corner.

It could recall Wembley 1994, when McCall, then trained by Steward, pulled off a surprise victory in under two rounds.

"Looking back at the first fight, it was stopped prematurely," Lewis contends. "But I don't want to dwell in the past, I just want to look to the future so I can amend it. If Oliver McCall thinks he can beat me again he's greatly mistaken."

Steward said: "After two rounds you'll see the aggression come in and Lennox will totally outclass him: the fight will have to be stopped by the seventh."

Victory should put Lewis in pole position for a unification bout with the World Boxing Association champion, Evander Holyfield, or Mike Tyson, who meet again on 3 May.

McCall, on his third bout of drugs rehabilitation, is to be tested before the fight by the Nevada State Athletic Commission. The results are expected today.