BASED in the USA, Terrence Alli returned to Guyana in September 1996 to clash with rising local star Andrew `Six Head’ Lewis.

The fight was held on the 14th of that month at the world-famous GCC ground and promoted by People’s Syndicate Promotions headed by Keith Bazilio.

At stake was the vacant welterweight title of Guyana. It was to be the 25-year-old Lewis’s last fight on home soil in nine years.

A power-puncher, Lewis put away the aging warrior in two rounds. Lewis never looked back and racked up 11 more victories before claiming the World Boxing Association (WBA) welterweight title, becoming the first Guyanese to wear a world crown.

Alli on the other hand, saw his already dulling career take a further nose-dive after the Lewis defeat. He lost his next three fights and with the writing on the wall, hung up his gloves in 1997.

Alli was born on June 26, 1960. He was a 23-year-old lightweight boxer when he challenged Puerto Rican Ivan Montalvo on November 12, 1983. The fight was held at the Showboat Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada and was his eighth bout in the USA.

Alli stopped his opponent in the fifth round of a scheduled 10-rounder to improve his record to 18-3-1. The Guyanese was undefeated in five fights during that year, with three victories coming by way of stoppage.

The following year the quick-fisted Alli reeled off six victories in as many fights. He made three unsuccessful bids for world titles. Two were in the lightweight division while the other was as a junior welterweight.

His career spanned 18 years and he boxed a total of 549 rounds for an average of 30 rounds per year.