Lewis becomes Guyana's firstworld boxing champion ... bring on Mosley, bring on de la Hoya By M.Z. Ali Guyana Chronicle February 19, 2001 LAS VEGAS, (Reuters & Fightnews.com) - Andrew `Sixheads' Lewis became Guyana's first ever world boxing champion when he stopped American James Page in the seventh round on Saturday to win the vacant World Boxing Association (WBA) welterweight championship. Lewis followed up a right jab with a crushing right hook to floor Page, who beat the count but could not convince referee Kenny Bayless he was able to continue. The bout was halted at 1:13 of the seventh round. "I'm very proud to win it. My country never won a world title," said Lewis, who earned his nickname after a defeated opponent said he saw six heads after absorbing Lewis's punishment. Page, who was stripped of the WBA title last year for failure to defend against Lewis, was suffering his fourth defeat in 29 fights. Lewis improved to 20-0-1, with 19 victories coming within the distance. The 30-year-old Lewis, who fights out of both the southpaw and conventional stances, proved far too fast for Page and dominated the fight from the start against the American, who was coming off a 19-month lay-off. He wobbled Page on the ropes, midway into round one, knocked Page down in round two, and dominated thereafter. "I am normally a slow starter (but) I started as fast as possible to let him know I was going to win the fight," Lewis said. "I knew I could knock him out, I knew he couldn't take it into the later rounds," Lewis said. Page twice backed out of fights with Lewis last year in quest for more money. He would have made only US$100 000 had he fought Lewis under the previous Don King deal. "Bring on Shane Mosley, bring on Oscar de la Hoya," said Lewis, who improved to 20-0-1 with his 19th knockout. "I want to fight them." Page, the former WBA welterweight champion who had his title stripped on August 12 for refusing to defend his title against Lewis, dropped to 25-4. Lewis was impressive in this fight. He jabbed and countered well and showed a good chin when the rare Page punch made it through. Page was dropped in the second round by a Lewis left uppercut. Page survived another Lewis flurry in the round to go into the 3rd round. Fightnews had the fight 60 to 52 going into the 7th round. "It was like target practice," Lewis said. "I knew he was always slow starting off, so I had to come out real fast. He hit me with some good shots, but Six Heads can take it to the chin." After the fight, Page said, "He's a lot sharper than I was, a lot stronger than I thought." Page thought his inactivity in recent years hurt him. "The fact I was out so long didn't help me tonight." Page, who appeared to take great punishment in this fight, thought the stoppage by Kenny Bayless was premature. Bob Arum won a bid to promote the bout and each boxer received US$200 000 for the contest. Follow the goings-on in Guyana in Guyana Today If you do not see the 'Guyana: Land of Six Peoples' drop-down menu on the left then please click here to enter through the front door which will give you additional options and information.