`Six Heads' return home not yet certain - HBO contract fight set for April 28 Guyana Chronicle February 21, 2001 PLANS by Guyanese world champion boxer Andrew `Six Heads' Lewis to return home around March 2 for victory celebrations are not yet certain, his Manager Nelson Fernandez said yesterday. Lewis, 30, has been in the United States on a "working visa" and it was "very uncertain" that if he travels to Guyana now, his immigration documents would be processed in time for him to fly back to New York for an April 28 title defence there, Fernandez told the Chronicle. He said Lewis has signed a contract with the HBO TV network for the April 28 fight which would be staged in New York, "where some 62,000 Guyanese live." "He does not want to take the chance to go back home and not be able to get back (to New York) in time for the fight", Fernandez said in a telephone interview. "What's the use of being a world champion and you can't fight?", the manager asked. Lewis was already back in the gym, training for the fight and Top Rank Promotions has made a commitment to the camp, he said. Fernandez said the Lewis camp is aiming for a clash with the renowned American `Sugar' Shane Mosely for a fight in November. "We already have a date", he told the Chronicle. Fernandez said Lewis' attorneys were trying to push clearing his immigration documents so that he could come to Guyana for a short visit from March 2, but nothing was certain at this stage. He said the boxer's working visa had been renewed for a short period and he was going through the process of applying for a `green card' to be able to continue his professional career in the U.S. Fernandez indicated that unless there are firm assurances Lewis would be able to return to New York in time for the April 28 fight, his visit to Guyana at this time may be in doubt. Lewis won the World Boxing Association Welterweight title in Las Vegas Saturday night when he beat American James Page. He has been hailed as Guyana's newest hero and President Bharrat Jagdeo declared Monday as a national holiday in his honour. `Six Heads' just couldn't believe it when he was told that last Monday had been declared a national holiday for him and was eager to be back home to celebrate. "Let them name (Monday) Andrew `Six Heads' Lewis Day!" he exclaimed. In a media statement just hours after watching the fight with Lewis' townsfolk in Albouystown, Georgetown, Mr Jagdeo declared, "He has done our country proud; his victory is a victory for all Guyanese." President Jagdeo said he has also instructed that the state provide the Guyanese hero with a house and land upon his return to Guyana. "A house and land for me?" Lewis asked, trying to let it all settle in Sunday morning. "Please tell them to set it up for me. I coming home soon", he said. "Tell them I want a big sign around the house saying `Andrew `Six Heads' Lewis house!" Youth, Sports and Culture Minister, Ms Gail Teixeira and the President's Aide-de-Camp Major Francis Abraham, flew to Las Vegas to represent the President at the historic occasion and Lewis warmly embraced the minister in congratulations in the ring after he had put paid to Page. Fernandez said then that the camp has spoken to the President and Teixeira and promised that Lewis would be coming home within two weeks. But he would be able to spend only a "couple of days" as he has to be in training camp soon to prepare for a title defence on April 28. "We are looking at the top five guys in the world" for a fight, Fernandez said. "We want to show the whole world that Guyana has the best fighter on the planet", he proclaimed. Lewis' opponent will be either the number three in the current rankings, Damgaard from the Netherlands, Michael Trabant from Germany (ranked number five) or Alessandro Duran of Italy, ranked number seven. "Bring on Shane Mosely, bring on Oscar De La Hoya. I want to fight them", Lewis declared after the fight. "We are ready for them", Fernandez said Sunday. The manager said Lewis was "very happy" not only for himself but for "all the Guyanese who believe in him." He said the victory came for `Six Heads' because the Guyanese has given 110 per cent. "He's a good listener, very smart in the ring and he's very hungry...he wants to make the whole world aware of how good he is", he added. Fernandez said another Guyanese boxer, Gairy St Clair, had found himself in problems after he returned here from the U.S. St Clair is the reigning National Junior Lightweight champion, a title he won meeting Vincent Howard on February 19, 1999, the then vacant title. Before entering the professional ring in 1994, St Clair had a glittering amateur career from the Under-16 level, winning Gold at the Caribbean level on several occasions, even capturing the Best Boxer title at Carifta (junior level) and Senior Caribbean level. St Clair won a Junior Pan American Gold in Venezuela in 1993, just after missing an Olympic shot for the Barcelona Games. The Guyana team had arrived late in Argentina for the Pre-Olympic Box-off. From 1995 St Clair campaigned in the USA. He frequented Guyana but when he returned last year, has not gone back because of visa problems. He, however, is campaigning in Australia, even sparring Costa Zu last month for his fight. (See editorial [ please note: link provided by LOSP web site ] on page six and other stories on back page.) 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.