From Isaiah Chappelle in New York
Guyana Chronicle
May 2, 2001

ANDREW `Sixhead' is probably the only Guyanese to have really given his country world recognition when he stepped into the ring in the Hammerstein Ballroom in Manhattan Centre Hotel, last Saturday night.

The response on his arrival was stupendous as the entire house exploded with a thunderous applause from the large Guyanese turnout and non-Guyanese alike.

World famous HBO Knockout cameras relayed to the world and Guyana's flags waved as Lewis was accorded the reception for a real celebrity.

No other Guyanese is probably more known than he is around the world and he is known under the Golden Arrowhead - not as a member of any regional team like cricket.

Chronicle Sport casually asked New Yorkers, chosen at random, if they knew the star of the cricketing world, Brian Lara, and they looked blank. The same question was posed re `Sixhead' Lewis and the response: well yes, the boxer with lightning speed.

`Sixhead' Lewis was able to unite Guyanese, even if it was for one night. Guyanese of all ethnic backgrounds at the Hammerstein Ballroom were one, waving the Golden Arrowhead, with one brother even dressed in a shirt made from the flag - and the scene was flashed around the world on Prime Time Sport television.

When the new star was tagged in the first round, the Hammerstein Ballroom plunged into silence in disbelief. People literally held their breath as he fought his way out of trouble and the applause returned.

Just after the fight a web-site poll showed that Lewis' chances of beating the highly touted World Boxing Council welterweight champion, `Sugar' Shane Mosley, as just 12 per cent against 82 per cent for Mosley.

But Shane Mosley himself acknowledged Lewis fought like a champion, although he predicted he would beat the Guyanese.

Former World Boxing Council champion, Kevin Kelly, said the pressure in the room might have affected Lewis's performance in the first round.

This is probably the second time in Lewis' boxing career that he was taken aback by the hype of big-time boxing.

During the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, the young boxers' jaw literally fell open when he entered the arena with bright lights and a huge crowd, as related by then manager of Guyana's boxing team, Commissioner of Police Laurie Lewis, who was then president of the Guyana Amateur Boxing Association.

Lewis failed to get past the German favourite who won by a controversial decision which was decried even in the American press.

Last Saturday night, the flashing lights and thunderous welcome given the champion might have affected him. This time, however, he was more mature and experienced, fighting off the initial lapse to produce a unanimous points decision.

Despite the web-site poll, that fight sent different signals to the boxing world. Here was a fighter who took the best of a determined opponent and went the distance, winning all the remaining rounds. That was just the third time that the champion went the distance in 22 fights, 19 of which he ended with knockouts.

The first title defence for Lewis established the Guyanese as a boxer of no small repute, a real champion.

Lewis told Chronicle Sport that he may be returning home in two weeks time. Let's hope that the champion is accorded the celebrity reception he deserves to keep the Golden Arrowhead waving proudly.