'Sixhead' showered with praises By Steve Ninvalle in Las Vegas in association with Federal Management System, GT&T, North American Airlines and BK International Stabroek News February 19, 2001 The mood in the `GT' section of the Conference Centre at the MGM Grand hotel was one of festivity. Hugs and handshakes were given with gusto when Guyana claimed its first world boxing title last Saturday night when referee Kenny Bayless called a halt to the fight between Andrew Lewis and James Page for the vacant WBA welterweight belt, in favour of the former. Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Gail Teixeira, who was at ring side, commended the 30-year-old southpaw for a job well done, stating that he has done his country proud. "Andrew is a great symbol for Guyana. We are very proud of him. It shows how much we as a people can achieve when you are focused. We can achieve heights as a people." "I'm sure that the people in Albouystown and all over Guyana are celebrating. "I feel on top of the world. It's a great moment for all of us," the minister said. "I think that Lewis was in great condition and was focused. It was only a matter of time before Page would have had to give up. " Darius Forde, a former national bantamweight champion said: "I was one of the first to predict this. The guy is in a class by himself. He can punch, he can box and is very acquired. This is overdue. What happened tonight was supposed to happen a long time ago," Forde is staging a massive victory dance for Lewis at the Spring Garden Club in New York this Friday. Andre 'Stone' Purlette, a world rated cruiserweight claimed that it was an excellent performance. "Lewis out-smarted Page. He took the fight to his opponent. This is huge for Guyana. I could just imagine what's going on back home. This is just the top of the iceberg since there will be a lot more Guyanese winning world titles and getting recognition. `Sixhead' has opened the doors which many other Guyanese will go through." And former middleweight champion Brian Muller, who earlier in the day predicted a seventh round knockout, felt that Lewis worked according to plan. "There was nothing that surprised me. Page is always a slow starter. The left hook he was depending on was never there. I think that Page wanted to give up by the end of the third round. It's not that Page did anything wrong but just that Lewis did everything right," Muller declared. "This victory holds a lot for Guyana," treasurer of the Guyana Boxing Board of Control, Andrew Thorne said in an invited comment. "With Lewis in the ring everyone in Guyana could have put on their rice, assured that stew was coming. He outboxed, outpunched and outsmarted Page. This victory will do well for Wayne Braithwaite, Raul Frank and Andre 'Stone' Purlette as they move towards world titles," the Board official stated. 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.