The left hand set the man up and the right hand put him down. Hasim Rahman was demolished by the book, just as Lennox Lewis had promised. And the manner of Lewis's victory made it clear that last April's defeat in South Africa was, as he has always insisted, nothing more than the result of a moment's inattention.

Lewis redeemed himself in Las Vegas on Saturday night, winning by a knockout after one minute and 29 seconds of the fourth round, and in the process became only the third man in history, after Muhammad Ali and Evander Holyfield, entitled to call himself a three-time heavyweight champion of the world. The realisation will be all the sweeter as yet again he proved his doubters wrong.

As a result he stands just one fight away from the place in the all-time hierarchy that he believes should be his.

"Now I want Tyson," he said afterwards, and there are those who believe that the many business hurdles which prevented an earlier meeting with the former undisputed champion will not be allowed to stand in the way of a rendezvous next spring.

A victory over Mike Tyson would remove the last weapon available to those who remain sceptical of Lewis's true standing, their number swollen before Saturday's fight by some who would generally number themselves among his admirers and well-wishers.

He had been widely criticised for divesting himself of his old management team, and so sloppy was his performance in the first fight against Rahman that it put a question mark against the survival of his appetite for fighting. Perhaps, at the age of 36, he could no longer find sufficient motivation to prove himself at the highest level all over again.

In terms of his overall career, to correct one mistake by defeating Oliver McCall in their return match four years ago was enough of an achievement, even given the pathetic nature of McCall's capitulation. To demonstrate the fortitude to erase a second blemish was more than doubly impressive, particularly since this time Lewis relied on his own strengths rather than his opponent's frailty.

Having lost his World Boxing Council, International Boxing Federation and International Boxing Organisation belts in five rounds, his success in recapturing them from the same opponent in one round fewer gave him particular satisfaction.

He had said he would use his superior experience and technique, which made it sound as though circumspection would be the theme. His trainer, Emanuel Steward, hoped he would come out showing more aggression from the start, but, Steward added, nothing Lewis did would surprise him.

In the end, Lewis fought his own fight. Having entered the Mandalay Bay arena to a noisy welcome, he stood calm and quiet during the tumult that greeted the arrival of Rahman, who was making his first appearance as champion on home soil.

Neither unduly cautious nor blusteringly aggressive, Lewis took his time about assessing the nature of Rahman's challenge, confounding the claims of both Steward and his opposite number, Adrian Davis, who had forecast fireworks in the first round.

Long-range jabs in the first round were followed by a couple of exploratory overarm right hands in the second. Throughout both rounds he allowed Rahman to come forward, but in the third he started picking the opportunities at which to stand his ground and unleash combinations.

In the fourth round he began to come forward and cut off the ring, restricting his opponent's movement. It seemed to be in desperation to regain the initiative that, at the climactic moment, Rahman took four running steps towards Lewis, to be met with the left hook and the right cross which sent him to the canvas and, shortly afterwards, to hospital for a checkover.

When Steve Nelson, Rahman's co-manager, observed the formality of suggesting a rematch at the post-fight press conference, he was roundly hooted. This was not intended as an insult to the brave Rahman, but as a recognition that only one fight matters to Lewis now. Whether it will take place depends largely on the US pay-per-view channels - HBO, with whom Lewis has a relationship, and Showtime, to whom Tyson is contracted - coming to an agreement over a fight likely to be worth $100 million.