By David Field, PA Sport Boxing Correspondent, Sydney

Big Canadian Art Binkowski has sampled enough thumps from Lennox Lewis not to over-concern himself about the power game of any super-heavyweight in Sydney.

The Polish-born Binkowski sparred with Lewis before his last world heavyweight title defence against Francois Botha in July, and prior to that helped him prepare for the second unification fight against Evander Holyfield, one of the ringside celebrities at the 2000 Olympics boxing tournament.

And Lewis rewarded Binkowski with hotel accommodation and a VIP ticket for the Botha fight at the London Arena.

Binkowski comes from the same amateur club in Kitchener, Ontario as Lewis, and is coached by the same man, Arnie Boehm.

Lewis told Binkowski that he would be in Sydney to back him, but ultimately the support could only be moral because Lewis is currently ensconced in his training camp in the Poconos, Pennsylvania, preparing for his next defence against David Tua in Las Vegas on November 11.

Had Lewis been present at Darling Harbour, he would have seen Binkowksi defeat Michael Macaque, of Mauritius, by 21-14, leading 5-3 9-6 and 14-8 in the opening three rounds before moving on to the quarter-finals.

The voluble Binkowski, who has lived in Canada for 12 years, said: "Lennox was planning to come here, and he called up Arnie to say he wasn't going to make it because of the Tua fight.

"He is already at the training camp in the Poconos, but I'll be talking to Lennox after the Olympics. After you take a couple of shots from Lennox right in your face and you are not lying on your backside, it builds up your confidence quite a bit."