NEW YORK -- What's that? What am I eating?

It's humble pie. Care for a slice?

	Lennox Lewis proved something to his doubters when he dismantled Michael Grant.

Oh, I see. You knew all along that Lennox Lewis was going to step through the Madison Square Garden ropes Saturday night and make Michael Grant fold like an origami accordion.

Well, I for one am going to admit my shock at Lewis' awesome display of destruction. He obliterated Grant with a second-round knockout to retain his mantle as the best heavyweight boxer in the world.

I thought Lewis would win, but certainly not like that. Lewis, taken lightly by me and many of my journalism colleagues, not only was victorious, he also left the ring with a knockdown highlight reel.

We've all heard the old saying, "the bigger they are, the harder they fall." I always thought that was one of those sayings my mother uttered to keep me from wetting myself in times of distress.

But Lewis proved the adage was fact.

For the first time in his professional career, the 6-foot-5, 247-pound Lewis faced a fighter bigger than he. Grant is 6-7, 250, and every bit of him crumpled to the canvas like no carcass I had ever seen in boxing -- not once but three times.

Grant hit the mat twice in the first round and would have fallen another time if the ringpost hadn't held him up. The first knockdown was recorded when Lewis landed a flush right uppercut, pivoted to the ducking Grant's left and fired an overhand right to the side of the head.

"I was surprised his corner actually sent him out for the second round," Lewis said at the postfight press conference, grinning like the Cheshire Cat.

In the second round, Grant looked like a hairball the Cheshire Cat had coughed up on the mat.

After Lewis started the round by landing some solid shots, causing Grant to flail in desperation, he floored his challenger in a blink with a wicked right uppercut. Lewis' left forearm weighed down the back of Grant's head when the big blow was delivered, but referee Arthur Mercante Jr. didn't deem it a foul.

Grant's eyes glazed over as he stared at the ceiling of boxing's grand cathedral. Mercante counted him out, and Lewis stood in the center of the ring, looking completely bored.

"It wasn't tremendous power," Grant said as members of the gathered media tried to contain their laughter. "I was pretty much numb to the effect. I just got caught with one of those equilibrium shots (on the first knockdown), and it stunned me for the rest of the knockdowns he had."

It was the first loss in 32 fights for the 27-year-old Grant. Lewis, 34, raised his record to 36-1-1 with 28 knockouts.

Of course, Grant's strategy played right into Lewis' mitts. Grant came out of his corner at the opening bell like a juvenile delinquent holding a can of spray paint while standing in front of a brand new subway car. He was out to deface the champion with tag after tag after tag.

"I was surprised at his aggressiveness," Lewis said. "I said in the beginning that if he came out aggressive, it was just going to make for a shorter fight.

"Michael Grant's style was a perfect style for me to showcase my talent. He definitely made it interesting for me by coming out like he did."

Grant, competing in his first title bout, preached patience in the days leading up to the fight. But that was quickly forgotten when he was enticed by Lewis' low hands. Grant, in turn, unleashed a flurry of unsuccessful haymakers and left himself vulnerable.

"Lennox showed me an opening, and I just tried to knock his head off," Grant said. "It was a strategy move for him, and he knew if I possibly opened up, he could take a half step back and do what was necessary for him to do."

Lewis not only marked up Grant's face, he also finally put an indelible imprint on the heavyweight division.

Previously viewed as a fighter who hadn't really accomplished all that much in exchange for the coveted undisputed heavyweight champion label -- especially by this corner -- Lewis took one long stride toward improving his legacy by whacking out one of the world's best young contenders.

Lewis mentioned after the fight that dangerous David Tua, the IBF's top-ranked heavyweight, deserves a shot before the WBA's No. 1, John Ruiz, whom Lewis calls "Louise." Ruiz is the reason for the Don King-filed lawsuit that stripped Lewis of his WBA belt for fighting Grant instead of Ruiz.

That's why Saturday night's fight was for only the IBF and WBC titles and not for the undisputed championship Lewis took from Evander Holyfield in November.

Lewis also reiterated his desire to fight Mike Tyson. Another possible candidate is Frans Botha. Lewis laughed off a call from the audience to fight Chris Byrd.

For now, boxing fans should take time to reflect on the evening that could be the signature bout for the much-maligned Lennox Lewis.

"Lennox is champion for a reason," said Grant, who before the fight hinted he would knock out Lewis around the 10th round. "You have to give him credit. Lennox is a smart man."

Grant had his helping of humble pie. Unfortunately for him, it was the dessert to follow the two other courses he ate: leather and dust.

Tim Graham is a veteran boxing writer who pens a bi-weekly column for ESPN.com.