The fight went the full distance, 12 rounds, despite the predictions by many that Lewis would finish off his Croatian challenger within the early rounds.

Zeljko Mavrovic proved a tough competitor as well as someone who can take a heavy punch.

But in the end Lewis' extra power, he was heavier and taller than the challenger, proved too much.

All three judges marked their cards in Lewis' favour.

But Lewis looked tired by halfway and was then content to pace himself for the final bell.

Trainer Emmanuel Steward said: "Lennox was puffing at the end of round three.

"He trained properly for the fight, I just couldn't understand why he got tired."

Mavrovic: put up a sterner fight than many had predicted

Mavrovic, of the Mohawk haircut, can be proud he extended Lewis for the entire contest.

"I said Lewis was my friend and he is my friend," said Mavrovic.

"He beat me and no one has ever beat me like that before."

Lewis also put together some good spells of boxing and looked more likely to succeed throwing combinations.

He used the jab more frequently in the opening rounds as Mavrovic refused to back off.

The Croatian kept trying to unsettle the champion but never had the sufficient armoury to do so.

Mavrovic soaked up some hurtful uppercuts from Lewis, and a right to the body in the fifth was one of the best punches of the fight.

But it was Lewis's turn to do some defending in the seventh as he was slowing up.

The champion, making his fourth defence of his crown, has now won 34 of his 35 professional fights with 27 victories inside the distance.

It was the challenger's first defeat after 27 wins.

The three judges scored the bout 119-109, 117-112 and 117-111 for Lewis.

The margin of victory was comfortable but Lewis looked anything but for much of the fight.

After Lewis said: "I trained wrong," explaining that he had not expected Mavrovic, who weighed in at 214 pounds to Lewis' 243, to hold his ground as well as he did.

"I went after my opponents in training. I've been chasing after my sparring partners."

Prior to the fight Lewis said he wanted to make a statement to Evander Holyfield, holder of the World Boxing Association (WBA) and International Boxing Federation (IBF) versions of the heavyweight title.

But his performance will have done little to worry Holyfield, should the two fighters ever get in a ring together.