VERNON Lewis was 19 years old when he defeated Godfrey Alexander in a six-round welterweight fight on April 13, 1969. The contest was held in Guyana and was a preliminary bout on a card headlined by Lennox Beckles versus Englishman Johnny Cooke.Lewis had joined the professional rank in 1967 and his career ran until 1981. He lost a points-decision to Beckles in May 1974. Four years later, Lewis tackled Puerto Rican Wilfredo Benitez, one of the most talented boxers the world has seen.
The Guyanese lost the 10-round contest, staged at the world famous Madison Square Garden, by points- decision.
Lewis’ next fight was against another Puerto Rican. Louis Resto had defeated Guyanese Reggie Ford and Mark Harris before matching gloves with Lewis in August 1979 at the National Sports Hall.
The result was a dubious split decision victory for the homeboy. It was the last time that Resto competed in Guyana. Lewis’ last fight was on October 29, 1981 against an up-and-coming Donald `Cobra’ Curry. Undefeated in eight bouts at the time, Curry (20) blasted the 32-year-old Guyanese and won by technical knockout (TKO) in the first round.
Seven fights later Curry was crowned the World Boxing Association (WBA) welterweight champion.