NEW YORK (AP) -- Last Aug. 27, Michael Bennett entered a ring in Houston to box Felix Savon of Cuba for the world amateur 201-pound championship. He left with the title and an empty feeling.

 Savon had refused to box in protest over a decision that had gone against a Cuban in an earlier bout.

 Now the 29-year-old Bennett is looking forward to fighting Savon -- something a lot of boxers have been happy to avoid -- next month in the Olympics at Sydney.

 "I'm very happy," Bennett said. "If I lose, I'm still happy to have a chance to box against the best. He's a legend."

 The career of the 32-year-old Savon borders on the mythic: Olympic gold medals in 1992-96, world championships in 1989-91-93-95 and numerous other titles.

 Bennett's career can be best described as intriguing. He will be the third consecutive U.S. Olympic heavyweight from Chicago to have done hard time. The others were Danell Nicholson, in 1996, and Nate Jones, a bronze medalist in 1996.

 When Savon knocked out DaVarryl Williamson with one punch 55 seconds into their Goodwill Games final in The Theater at Madison Square Garden, in 1998, Bennett had been free for three days after serving seven years for the armed robbery of a toy store in Chicago.

 It was while Bennett was in Menard (Ill.) Federal Prison, where he was known as the Toy Store Bandit, that he became involved in boxing.

 A fellow inmate was on Bennett's case, and Bennett wanted to shut him up.

 "I decided the only way to beat him was to beat him in a boxing tournament," Bennett once said. He did.

 Bennett's march to the Olympics is remarkable. Because of his age, Bennett, who had only about 10 matches in prison, had to go directly into open competition.

 Head coach Tom Mustin of Tacoma, Wash., finds Bennett teachable. A plus for Bennett is that he didn't have a lot bad habits to overcome.

 Bennett has won all 12 of his bouts this year, including three in an Olympic qualifying tournament for boxers from North, South and Central America and the Caribbean.

 "I feel I've got a little more knowledge under my belt in Olympic style boxing," he said.

 Bennett was in New York with the 11 other Olympic boxers Tuesday and Wednesday for an open workout at the New York Athletic Club, television appearances and a news conference at City Hall.

 He did not participate in the workout, flashing a sheepish grin when someone said, "Forgot to duck, huh."

 "I should have been bobbing and weaving," said Bennett, who twisted his left ankle while falling when he got knocked down in a recent sparring session with 178-pound DeAndre Abron, an alternate.

 The injury is not serious, but as a precaution Bennett will not participate in a dual meet against Puerto Rico Friday night at Foxwoods Casino at Mashantucket, Conn.

 Any boxer can be caught and knocked down, but it's extremely wise not to get caught by Savon.

 Besides his success at the world championships, where he won three bouts, Bennett reached the finals of both the U.S. championships and the National Golden Gloves in 1999. He lost on points to Malik Scott in the nationals and was stopped in the second round by DaVarryl Williamson in the Golden Gloves.

 This year he became national 201-pound champion, then beat Williamson 18-5 in the championship bracket final of the Olympic trials. In the box-offs he outpointed Scott, who had won the challengers' bracket at the trials.

 Bennett secured a spot in the Olympics by stopping Richard Nazario of Puerto Rico in the second round of their final in an Americas qualifying tournament April 1 at Tampa, Fla.

 Whether or when Bennett boxes Savon in Sydney depends on the draw for the 15-man division.

 "I'm not just worried about Felix Savon, right," Bennett said. "I'm worried about all of them. All of them had to qualify. They all want to be there."