ONE week after having his life snatched from him, Guyana’s first World Champion Andrew ‘Six Head’ Lewis will be laid to rest today. The 44-year-old Lewis on Monday May 4, was killed in an accident on the East Bank Highway, in the vicinity of Covent Garden.
Reports state that the former World Boxing Association (WBA) Welterweight Champion was riding his bicycle, heading to a popular ‘coconut’ spot near his home – somewhere he visits daily – when he was struck from behind by a motor car.
The driver, 33-year-old Mannex Powers appeared in court and pleaded not guilty to the causing death by dangerous driving charge and was granted $250 000 bail.
Lewis’ body would be at his home at Hutsonville from 09:15 hrs to 11:00hrs for viewing then the body is scheduled for the tarmac of the Andrew Lewis Gym in Albouystown for a second viewing from 11:45hrs to 12:45 hrs.
This would be followed by the service at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall soon after, where several officials from the Government and the boxing fraternity are expected to pay their tribute to the man many believe was the best ever boxer to come out of Guyana.
On February 17, 2001, Guyana’s Andrew ‘Six Head’ Lewis fought American James Page for the vacant WBA Welterweight title.
Known as the ‘Mighty Quinn’, Page defeated Andrei Pestriaev in 1998 to capture the vacant WBA welterweight title and defended it three times until he was stripped in 2000, for failing to turn up for a mandatory title defence.
‘Six Head’ Lewis at the time was the number one welterweight contender in the WBA rankings and was undefeated in 20 professional fights, knocking out 18 of his opponents.
With an entire nation behind him, Lewis went on to win via TKO against Page in 7th of their 12-round contest.
The boy from Albouystown turned ‘Pro’ in 1993, first stepping into the ring against Fitzroy Davidson and eight years later he sat on top of the world, immortalised by Guyanese home and abroad.
Lewis’ next fight, a defence against Larry Marks, was not as incisive as his world title win but nevertheless, the pundits were satisfied that he exited the ring with his crown firmly on his head.
His second defence against the much heralded Nicaraguan, Ricardo Mayorga, ended in a no-contest after a clash of heads early in the bout.
Unknowingly, the writing was on the wall for Lewis who surrendered his title after suffering a humiliating defeat to Mayorga – a second-round TKO.
Several attempts to climb back to the top failed dismally after Lewis was also knocked out by Antonio Margarito for the World Boxing Organisation (WBO) welterweight title.
His subsequent return to the local ring saw him suffer defeats to Denny Dalton, but while the former world champion managed to avenge the Dalton defeat, he slipped into oblivion after losing to Howard Eastman in 2008.
That was the last time Guyana and the rest of the world got to see the man that brought the country more recognition that any athlete can imagine.