LAS VEGAS -- What difference does it make how it happened?

It all worked out in the end, and that rarely happens in boxing, especially this year. So maybe everyone should be glad some justice was eventually done.

	Eight months too late, Lennox Lewis could finally claim his title belts.

Lennox Lewis finally got what he deserved Saturday night when he recorded a brow-raising unanimous decision over Evander Holyfield at the Thomas & Mack Center on the UNLV campus, winning the undisputed heavyweight world championship.

... Or, at least we think he won it. A dispute between the embattled IBF and Lewis' handlers over the sanctioning fee led to the IBF leaving the arena with its belt, refusing to recognize him as its champion. But that's a controversy to be resolved later.

Even without three belts in his possession, and despite the doubts of many observers, Lewis was given his due.

The fight, dull for the most part but entertaining in spurts, was a rematch of a March 13 snoozer at Madison Square Garden in which Lewis dominated Holyfield throughout, but the final result was a highly controversial majority draw. The IBF-appointed judge, Eugenia Williams, said Holyfield won that fight by two rounds, prompting several hearings and investigations that played a role in the federal indictments handed to the IBF earlier this month.

There were some questions about Saturday night's outcome as well. As with the Oscar De La Hoya-Felix Trinidad fight here last month, several rounds were dull and difficult to score. Depending on what the judges were looking for, the decision could have gone either way.

But all three judges, who unlike the first fight were not affiliated with the three sanctioning bodies, called Lewis the clear winner.

Bill Graham claimed Holyfield won only three rounds and lost 117-111. Chuck Giampa scored it 116-112, and Jerry Roth had it 115-113, both for Lewis.

"I was glad the scoring was like it was," Lewis said. "Now there is no doubt."

TVKO's unofficial scorer, Harold Lederman, scored the fight 116-112 for Lewis, calling it "the easiest fight to score I ever saw. Really."

The rest of the onsite media was split for the most part, with many having each fighter winning by margins both large and small. I scored the fight 116-112 for Holyfield.

But in the end, virtually everyone shrugged. There was no outcry. This fight never should have happened to begin with. Lewis was robbed in an ugly matchup that, even if the correct victor had been named, wasn't worth a second look.

Fortunately for the statuesque Brit, however, there was a chance for retribution, and he finally got what he had coming for eight months.

"It went the way the first fight should have with everybody knowing Lennox should have won that fight," said Roy Jones, the light heavyweight champion who worked the fight for TVKO. "They were thinking that, and when they judged the close rounds and they had to give someone the benefit of the doubt, they leaned in Lennox's favor."

The numbers backed the judges, as Lewis won every offensive statistic. According to CompuBox, Lewis landed 195 of 490 punches (40 percent), 76 of 231 jabs (33 percent) and 119 of 259 power punches (46 percent).

Holyfield connected on 137 of 416 punches (33 percent), 52 of 162 jabs (32 percent) and 85 of 254 power punches (34 percent).

"In this fight," junior lightweight champ Floyd Mayweather said, "the judges were looking for more scoring blows. But Holyfield landed the bigger shots.

"If you want to call any fight a draw, this one was it. I could have went either way."

Lewis raised his record to 34-1-1; Holyfield slipped to 36-4-1.

Holyfield, who at 37 years old doesn't have many boxing days left, didn't argue with the ruling. The tone in his voice was that of indifference, possibly because even he knew there shouldn't even have been a rematch. "I'm not embarrassed by my performance," Holyfield said. "I came out and gave it all I got. When it falls into the judges' hands, things happen. I'm not happy with the decision, but I have to live with it.

"I didn't knock Lennox Lewis out. I have to take the decision and the reality that he's the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world."

Holyfield's comments were as monotone as the fight. In fact, a brawl between a pair of boxing public relations officials prior to the post-fight press conference was far more exciting.

Don King Productions spokesman Greg Fritz refused to let Bill Kaplan, a Top Rank guy, attend the press conference. Kaplan reportedly was the one who shut off King's microphone, in mid-bellow, after the De La Hoya-Trinidad fight, which was co-promoted by King and Top Rank.

"You turn off the mike on my boss and then you expect me to let you into my press conference?" Fritz asked Kaplan before the latter attacked. The two landed a high percentage of blows -- CompuBox would have been proud -- and wound up on the floor.

It was a fight worthy of a rematch, unlike the one some paid as much as $1,500 to see Saturday night -- $49.95 on pay-per-view.

There will be a few fans, however, especially those who disagreed with the decision, who will want to see Holyfield-Lewis III.

The first two were painful enough. Masochists would agree.

Everyone should be happy 1999 will end with -- if not a thoroughly enthralling event -- the right man sitting in the most prestigious throne in sports.

"Let's leave well enough alone," Jones said. "I wish they would have done this the first time."