by Shirley Thomas
Guyana Chronicle
May 20, 2001

"Stop doing bad things round the streets and things like that."

GUYANA'S first world boxing champion, Andrew `Six Head' Lewis has thrown out a challenge to the youths of his hometown Albouystown and around the country to pursue a new sense of direction, new ideals and to set themselves higher goals.

From now on they are to see themselves as "achievers" who can reach the desired goals in life - youths with a sense of purpose, he urged yesterday.

Lewis threw out the challenge at a ceremony at which the Young Achievers Gym in Albouystown in Georgetown was renamed the "Andrew Six Head Lewis Gym", and the Independence Boulevard the "Andrew Six Head Boulevard."

In a very big brotherly fashion, Lewis who followed through his boxing career training in that very gym, assured the scores of youths with attentive and curious looking faces and overspilling the small building:

"I want all the ghetto youths to know; all the guys all over Georgetown, Guyana to know that Andrew Six Head Lewis deh fuh you all - you know."

He pleaded with them: "You all could be all you want to be in life. You all just got to go to school, get your knowledge, and make sure you all do the right things.

"Stop doing bad things round the streets and things like that."

Lewis, now the World Boxing Association welterweight boxing champion did not shoot to fame overnight.

He achieved what he has through hard work, discipline, sacrifice and dedication.

Using his life as an example, he admonished the youths to focus on him and the attributes that led him to winning the world championship and becoming who he is today.

Lewis urged them to put their best foot forward in their pursuits, and with diligent application they would be on the right path towards success.

He closed by wishing them all God's blessings.

Responding to accolades and words of commendation showered on him by other speakers at the ceremony, and delivering the charge at the auspicious occasion, Guyana's boxing hero challenged the young people to use it as a timely reminder that they too can be "Achievers".

He recalled the hard work he did preparing himself to become a professional boxer and his first encounter with Guyana's leading coach `Kanchie' in that very gym.

`Kanchie', according to Mr Odinga Lumumba, was a boxing icon who "consistently churned out boxers like a factory" leading many of the best boxers in Guyana and the rest of the Caribbean to fame.

And `Kanchie' recalled the first day `Six Head' approached requesting that he find him an opponent to fight.

The young role model, born on December 14, 1970, did not achieve his success overnight, but having first ventured into the ring at the tender age of seven, realised that it was his calling.

Lewis' father, named Andrew as well, was also a local fighter, and Six Head's son, Andrew III or "Five Head" as Six Head dubbed him, may well be a boxer also.

His track record shows that Lewis is a product of amateur boxing in Guyana and the Caribbean. He competed for Guyana in many events and some of his victories include Novice, Intermediate and Open titles in the same year before competing in the Junior Carifta Games where he won a gold medal.

He later entered the CAC Games, Pan American Games and represented Guyana in the Barcelona Olympics. He compiled an impressive amateur record of 47-3 before turning pro in 1996.

Alluding to the humble gym with great respect and deep sentimental memories, Lewis yesterday said: "This is a great gym...a very wonderful gym."

"Great fighters came out of this gym..."

He credited the success of his career to the encouragement, support and dedicated training given him by `Kanchie', whose brainchild the gym was, and who had ceaselessly toiled to fashion him into a boxer of substance.

`Kanchie' has a reputation of being 'the' boxing coach to have groomed and fashioned the best boxers Guyana and the Caribbean have ever produced.

`Six Head' recalled his first time going to the gym as a lad, and calling on `Kanchie' to bring him one of his best sparring partners. He admitted that his opponent beat him "real bad".

Said `Six Head': "I was beaten so bad, I ended up spitting blood, and had to go and lie down. But that didn't get me down, because I got a heart man. You know what I name? My name is Andrew Six Head Lewis."

His determination and resilience did not allow him to back down. According to `Kanchie', Lewis went back the following day with a determination to beat the same opponent and did so overwhelmingly.

And yesterday Lewis recalled with pride: "And I continued going back to the gym...And so I'm the greatest in my category right now. I'm the champion of the world."

Veteran boxing promoter Lumumba who chaired yesterday's ceremony, reinforced Lewis' challenge to the youths of the neighbourhood and called on them to repeatedly affirm with confidence: "I am somebody!" which they did to the delight of their new role model, `Six Head'.

Mr. Keith Bazilio, another veteran in the sport in Guyana, said the Young Achievers Gym was started in 1985.

He said the gym originally started in a yard at the corner of James and Garnett streets - merely as a ring out in the open, and unprotected from the elements.

He said it was very successful and gave rise to Guyanese and Caribbean champions. He said that in his capacity as Prime Minister, Mr. Hamilton Green, now Georgetown Mayor assisted them in setting up a small wooden building.

Lumumba announced that on the night of Six Head's victory, President Bharrat Jagdeo said to him that they will build two new gyms, adding: "And that process has begun". He said arrangements are being finalised to have the construction of the first new gym begin on that same spot as soon as possible.

On Friday evening a homecoming programme was held on Independence Boulevard in honour of Lewis and hosted by the Albouystown community.

At that programme, attended by thousands, Lewis was presented with a unique scroll and several plaques by representatives of the community, the first by an 85-year-old citizen, Florence Walks also called `Grannie Geaton'.

There was a cultural presentation at which the Don Gomes All Stars Dance Troupe featured prominently after displaying a float designed specially to depict Lewis' victory.

The float was carried by Dawn Humphrey, Anastacia Gomes and Chivona Griffith.

And to the amazement of many, the audience came in for an unexpected treat when the champion reciprocated by thrilling the hearts of them all with his special renditions of dub singing.

This unexpected treat sent the crowd cheering and waving wildly and calling for more.