Bazilio lauds Lewis
By Michael DaSilva
Popular boxing promoter Keith Bazilio is high in praise for Andrew `Sixhead' Lewis after his seventh round knockout of American James Page for the World Boxing Association (WBA) welterweight title on Saturday night. "I am overjoyed, but not surprised, a world title has been eluding Guyana for a number of years, but over the years, seeing the quality in Lewis, I knew he would have won Guyana's first world title" Bazilio told Stabroek Sport. The former amateur boxer said he was surprised at the manner of Lewis' destruction of Page despite the recognition the American received prior to the bout. "Former world heavyweight champion George Foreman said recently that World Boxing Council welterweight champion Shane Mosley or Felix Trinidad would first have to beat James Page before being considered the best pound for pound welterweight around, but what would he say now," Bazilio queried. Bazilio who has a long relationship with Lewis and who is mainly responsible for the fighter being hooked up with his manager Nelson Fernandez, said he knew Lewis could box and fight all along, but is a bit surprised by his development since he left Guyana, "He is now polished," the promoter added. Bazilio said he hopes by the grace of God the victory would help Guyanese to be more united. "Every Guyanese should be proud of `Sixhead' regardless of their race, colour or creed and this should show us that we should live as one and celebrate for Guyana and not a party or a race," Bazilio stressed. Bazilio also had good words for the government for promising the new world champion a house and land, and expects the promise to be honoured. He said a few years ago a politician now deceased, promised to build a boxing gym in Lewis' home area Albouystown, if the boxer defeated compatriot Terrence Ali for the Guyana welterweight title. Lewis stopped Ali in round three but the gym never materialised. Bazilio feels it is an opportune time for the government to invest in sports in general as our sportspersons have proved that they could rise to the occasion "The few times they failed, was because of the lack of support," Bazilio opined. "I would also like the government to re-trace the blunder they made by not giving 110 percent assistance to the mother of `Sixhead' (Yvonne Eversley) to obtain a US visa to be at ringside with her son on fight night". Bazilio feels that by the end of the year, Guyana would have three world titles through Andrew Purlette, Wayne `Big Truck' Braithwaite and Rawle Frank.
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