IT IS quite unusual for Guyanese boxers to announce their retirement from the sport. It is even more unusual for a local fighter to retire from the sport undefeated. That’s what makes `Hurricane’ Hugo Lewis an exceptionally unusual fighter. A supremely skilled, super featherweight Lewis put aside his gloves 10 years ago, aged 31 and while still in his prime. He remains undefeated in 18 fights and to this day is the cause of boxing aficionados continuously scratching their heads, reminiscent of a louseattack, as they ponder the reasons that could have led to his early and impromptu exit.

After a stellar amateur career, the Berbice-born Lewis had his first professional fight in December of 1994. He rattled off four victories before meeting nemesis Vincent Howard in September 1996.
The fight was one of the preliminaries of the Andrew `Six Head’ Lewis versus Terrence Alli card promoted by Keith Bazilio’s People’s Syndicate Promotion and which was staged at the world-famous GCC ground.
It was a classic encounter. Howard dominated the early rounds and even floored the game Lewis with a combination in round two. However, the younger Lewis came roaring back like Corentyne Thunder and turned in an impressive performance which should have earned him victory but was labelled a draw by the judges.
He prevailed in five other encounters before having a second try at Howard. On Boxing Day 2001, a wiser and better conditioned Lewis snatched the national junior lightweight title with a 10th round TKO.
With the national title well secured around his waist, Lewis turned his attention to wider and greener pastures. A one-year sojourn in the USA resulted in three victories, one by knockout. He returned to Guyana in December of 2002 to deny Howard a chance of wearing the CBA junior lightweight crown following a split decision.
A year layoff gave way to Lewis becoming the WBC Caribbean Boxing Federation (CABOFE) champion when he dismantled Barbadian John Trotman in round one at the Sir Garfield Sports Complex. Lewis had two more fights, the last being a technical draw against Earl Dean due to a clash of heads in the fourth round.
Then, without warning, and with a future brighter than a 100-watt bulb the CABOFE champion waved good-bye.
Lewis ended with a clean slate having fought 89 professional rounds and securing a knockout percent of 66. He may not have had the flair of Terrence Alli or commanded attention as Andrew `Sixhead’ Lewis did but in more ways than one Hugo Lewis remains one of the finest produced by Guyana.