Everybody has heard about Andrew Golota. The Foul Pole. He fought Riddick Bowe, when Bowe was only slightly past his prime, twice and was disqualified both times for low blows. Golota went south even though he was winning. Then he fought Lennox Lewis and lost in less than a round, not seeming to offer even a token defense. Couldn't help himself and ruined a promising career.

We'll never know why Golota did what he did. We do know that he has since been cleared on assault charges in his native Warsaw, and that he's paid his dues -- in squeaky-clean, boy-scout fashion -- to get back to the limelight. The North American Boxing Federation title isn't the big time, but it sets up a possible world title shot, again against Lennox Lewis.

Golota is 31, and this is his last chance to be taken seriously. He can either redeem himself or fade into obscurity, a barely-remembered answer in "You Don't Know Jack, Sports Edition."

His opponent, Michael Grant, is widely touted as the future of the heavyweight division. He's unbeaten in 30 fights, and has a mean right hand. But Grant's biggest fight so far has been against Lou Savarese -- the poster-boy for "big, slow white men can't fight." Grant, to date, hasn't shown the flash or desire that would mark him as the first great heavyweight of the new century.

Golota will have to use his jab, box and weave, and bring every bit of his experience -- good and bad -- with him Saturday night if he wants to win. But if Golota loses he knows he will forever be a joke. And that should be just too much for this proud man and unheralded boxer.

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