Touch and go for `Six Heads' return home
by Sharief Khan
`We want to embrace all Guyanese and share with all Guyana this victory...this victory belongs to every Guyanese.' - Manager Nelson Fernandez IT'S still "very much touch and go" for the planned return home next month by boxer Andrew `Six Heads' Lewis to celebrate the world title win he scored in Las Vegas a week ago, his manager said yesterday.
Lewis, 30, has been in the United States on a "working visa" and his Manager Nelson Fernandez told the Chronicle the Guyanese has secured an extension on the visa from the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS).
This allows him to continue fighting in the U.S. but Lewis does not want to take the chance of returning here and miss an April 28 title defence in New York while waiting for a visa from the U.S. embassy in Georgetown.
"The INS has approved his extension but this does not secure a visa in his passport", Fernandez explained.
"We want to embrace all Guyanese and share with all Guyana this victory...this victory belongs to every Guyanese.
"This is Guyana's belt", Fernandez said, referring to the championship belt Lewis was awarded after his victory.
The manager said they were looking for an assurance that if Lewis flies back home and drops off his passport at the embassy, he would be able to pick up back the passport with the visa in about four hours.
Fernandez said they were being extra cautious about this because others have had problems in the past, not getting a visa after dropping off their passport at the embassy.
He said they were looking at possibly getting a visa at the U.S. embassy in Canada or Mexico, assuring Lewis he would be able to return to New York in time for the April 28 fight.
Fernandez said Lewis' attorneys would be contacting the embassy here about assurances on the visa.
Lewis was going through the process of applying for a `green card' to be able to continue his professional career in the U.S., he said.
The Chronicle understands that the INS has sole jurisdiction over foreign nationals in the U.S. and issues like extending visas and granting permission for them to return to the U.S. while their position is pending is the agency's responsibility.
If Lewis is concerned about his status his lawyers would have to contact the INS and resolve those problems before he comes home, an official explained.
"The INS is their best bet", he said.
The Chronicle also understands that the embassy here would be willing to help as best it can by letting the INS know the special circumstances of the case.
Fernandez said Lewis has signed a contract with the HBO TV network for the April 28 fight which would be staged in New York.
His opponent is Nicholas Cervera from Colombia who is ranked ninth by the World Boxing Association (WBA).
Cervera has a professional record of 33 wins and two losses and 30 of his wins came by knockout, Fernandez said.
He acknowledged that Lewis was coming up against a tough opponent.
"You only get good if you fight tough guys."
Lewis won the World Boxing Association Welterweight title in Las Vegas last week 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.
The President has also instructed that the state provide Lewis with land and a house when he returns home.
Fernandez said they were planning to be here next month for a short stay because Lewis has to be in training for the upcoming fight.
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.
On Friday, the anniversary of the Republic, Lewis was special guest at a party hosted in Brooklyn, New York by the Guyanese-American Association.
Some 400 people were inside the Spring Garden venue and about 900 were outside, Fernandez told the Chronicle.
"It was unbelievable...truly awesome", Fernandez said of the party for the world champion.
He said the Saturday night fight was shown again on a large TV screen and the crowds loved it all.
`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."
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.
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