THE Guyana Boxing Board of Control (GBBC) is currently in discussions to erect a monument of Guyana’s first-ever world boxing champion Andrew `Six Head’ Lewis.

This announcement was made last Tuesday by GBBC’s president Peter Abdool during the signing of contracts for the September 26 `Next Generation Boxing – Giftland Showcase.
In bringing members of the media up to date with the GBBC’s future plans, Abdool said a monument of Lewis in his memory is most fitting, since Lewis won Guyana’s first world boxing title after many other (Guyanese) had tried to win world titles but failed.
Lewis knocked out American James Page 2001 to capture the vacant WBA welterweight title. Due to his exciting style and power in both hands, Lewis quickly became a popular fighter on HBO.
After defending the title against Larry Marks, he took on Ricardo Mayorga and the bout ended in the second round and was ruled a no-contest due to a nasty cut on Lewis caused by accidental head butt.
Lewis lost the title in a rematch with Mayorga in 2002 via 5th round TKO.
In 2003 Lewis challenged WBO welterweight champion Mexico’s Antonio Margarito, but was TKO’d in round two by the Mexican.
According to Abdool, the GBBC is currently in talks with the World Boxing Association (WBA) as well as the World Boxing Council (WBC) for assistance to have the monument of the former Albouystown, Georgetown resident become a reality.
Abdool said so far, things appear as though the plans will bear fruit and a site for the erection of the monument is being looked at.
Chronicle Sport caught up with some residents of Albouystown yesterday and every one of them expressed the view that the monument should be erected in the Albouystown community where Lewis was born and lived for most of his life.
They all said it would be more fitting to erect it outside the Andrew `Six Head’ Lewis gym at the corner of Callender Street and Independence Boulevard.
The gym was built in Lewis’ honour.
Born on December 14, 1970, Lewis lost his life after being struck by a motor vehicle on the East Bank highway on May 4 this year.
During his professional career, Lewis fought 33 times. He won 23 of them with 20 coming by the knock-out route. He lost four and drew three.

By Michael DaSilva