`Sixhead' has a mandatory bout against number one contender Ricardo Mayorga of Nicaragua at the Staple Centre Arena, Los Angeles, California, on July 28.

In an e-mail, manager Nelson Fernandes told Chronicle Sport: "Of course we anticipate this being one of the toughest fights in Lewis' career because of Mayorga's style, his credentials, he is also tall, strong and very `Cocky'."

But Fernandes predicts that the champion will finish Mayorga within the fifth round, while the Nicaraguan plans to knock out Sixhead in three rounds.

"I beg of Mayorga's people to refrain Mayorga from making such ridiculous statements. The only one getting knocked out in this fight will be Mayorga and it will be inside five rounds," Fernandes declared.

The champion went into camp from Saturday at the Fernwood Hotel and Resorts in Bushkill Falls, Pennsylvania.

"We have been in the gym, the Joe Griers Boxing Academy in Paterson, New Jersey, where we have been working with a few more `new' combinations that Six will unleash in his mandatory (defence fight)," Fernandes said.

Sixhead will be pocketing US$312 000 for this fight, the highest purse ever for a Guyanese boxer.

The champion already successfully defended his title against Larry Marks on April 28 last for which he earned $150 000.

Lewis became the first Guyanese boxer to win a world title when he scored a seven-round knock out over James Page on February 17.

The champion may again defend his title on October 13 in an HBO fight card against number four ranked Chantel Stanciel of the USA.

But Fernandes is still trying to fulfil Sixhead's wish to fight in front of his home crowd in a non-title encounter against a world class opponent.

That fight should have been staged next month between July 15 and 21 by Keith Bazilio. However, Fernandes could not make contact with Bazilio and Odinga Lumumba who had also indicated an interest in such a fight.

Then came the mandatory title defence which shelved any such plan. The new date should be in the last week of September. If that does not materialise then the third fourth title defence will go ahead.

After that bout, the champion will take another rest, aiming to fight Shane Mosley in mid-March next year.

"HBO has been pushing for the Mosley fight to be around December as well.

"So if we do not fight in September in Guyana, our schedule will be so overwhelming that it would not be possible to fight in Guyana till late 2002," Fernandes disclosed. (Isaiah Chappelle).