The man who would become Guyana’s first world champion had his third professional fight on December 4, 1993.Andrew `Six Head’ Lewis roughed up Calvin John in the first round and continued the onslaught in the second stanza which forced the referee to stop the contest. Lewis would go on to win the WBA welterweight title on February 17, 2001.
He stopped James Page in the seventh round to spark wild celebration in Guyana. Then President Bharrat Jagdeo gave a national holiday in recognition of Lewis’ feat.
On December 4, 1993 junior welterweight Mark Richardson defeated Marcelle Daniels via a points decision after eight rounds. Gwendolyn `The Stealth Bomber’ O’Neil had her first pro victory on December 4, 1999.
O’Neil defeated Margaret `Chico’ Walcott in a four-round contest. Five years later, O’Neil became the first Guyanese female world title holder when she defeated Kathy Rivers at the National Park to be crowned Women’s International Boxing Association (WIBA) light heavyweight champion.
She is also the first Guyanese to win a world title at home.