GUYANA’S first world champion Andrew `Six Head’ Lewis died on May 4, 2015. Lewis a former World Boxing Association (WBA) welterweight champion and of Lot 14 Hutsonville, New Hope, EBD, was reportedly riding a bicycle on his way to visit a friend when he collided with a car as he attempted to cross the East Bank Public Road.
The southpaw Lewis, aka `The Albouystown Cyclone’, was transported by an ambulance that was in the area and rushed to the Diamond Diagnostic Hospital where he subsequently died. He was 44 years old at the time and contemplating a comeback to the sport.
Lewis was a knock-out specialist with power in both hands. The southpaw welterweight drove fear into the hearts of opponents and by his 14th fight he had totalled 13 knock-out victories.
At that time, the only person to be spared his knock-out wrath was South Korean-born Han Kim, who earned a technical draw with the Guyanese `powerhouse’ after being cut on the forehead during the second round.
With support from Compton Maycock Beckles, Lewis shifted camp from Guyana to the USA in 1997 just after he won the local welterweight title by stopping Terrence Alli.
Lewis won the World Boxing Association (WBA) welterweight title following a seventh round TKO of American James Page in February 2001. The victory sparked wild celebration in Guyana and his return home later that year caused pandemonium as schoolchildren ran out of schools to greet the local hero.
He gained a unanimous decision victory over Larry Marks in the first defence two months after winning the title in April but lost the title to Ricardo Mayorga in March 2002.