Born to be a champ
Steve Ninvalle in Las Vegas
The once-feared James Page and manager James Prince kept the gathering at the pre-fight press conference entertained. Not only was Page going to hurt little known Guyanese Andrew `Six Head' Lewis but he promised to knock him out. Prince, who also manages junior lightweight champion `Pretty Boy' Floyd Mayweather warned the promoter to have an ample supply of smelling salts since Lewis would need when put to the canvas. "This guy has no chin and no heart. I'm going to bring pain to you," Page promised. As Page continued his sermon at the press conference last Thursday, Lewis momentarily got to his feet beat his hands against his chest and shouted in deep creole language. "The new world champion is Lewis." Page was given another opportunity to strut his vocal stuff at the weigh-in one day after. Taunted by a group of Guyanese spearheaded by Miami based Ian `Iron Man' Urling, Page pledged to get even when he finished knocking Lewis out. Later Lewis said to me: "I'm going to destroy this guy Steve. He's all talk." He never came through better on a promise. For seven rounds he banged the former champion around the ring (dropping him twice in the process) until referee Kenny Bayless called a halt after 1 minute 13 seconds of the fatal round. In the minds of many Lewis was a sure winner. Page was tailor-made for him some argued. While others were adamant that Page would have to be scraped off the floor. The rest is history or is it? Almost five years ago when Lewis was preparing to battle former world rater Terrence Alli for the welterweight title of Guyana promoter Keith Bazilio pulled me aside and whispered. "This (Lewis) guy will be a world champion. I feel it in my bones." I had not seen much of Lewis at that and felt that Bazilio was just over reacting after Lewis had a reasonably good sparring session. To my surprise Lewis steamrolled Alli inside two rounds prompting Bazilio to approach me once again. "See what I told you," he said. I reasoned with the boxing promoter who may be Lewis' biggest fan and supporter, that Terrence Alli was far from his prime and could not be considered a top quality opponent. Lewis is still to prove himself I argued. Bazilio was adamant and would not shift from his position. Two years ago while in New York, I caught up with Lewis after he had fought three times for the year and was in line for a world title shot. In order to bring me up to date with how much he has progressed since departing Guyana in 1996 Lewis loaned me video recordings of his last three fights. I was particularly impressed with his performance against Damone Wright in December 1999 and thought there and then that he had world championship ability. While stopping Wright in the third round Lewis has showcased surprising speed and power, two qualities few of his compatriots who made attempts at world titles (with the exception of Patrick Ford) possessed. His stoppage of Sebastian Valdez, the California State champion in round two last November put the icing on the cake. At age 30 Lewis was ready for his first world title shot. With the imposing credentials of six first round knockouts, eight in the second round and having all but one of 19 victories before the seventh round Lewis met Page on a card dubbed Double Trouble. With blinding hand speed and potent power Lewis AKA `The Albouystown' Cyclone not only went down in the history books as the first Guyanese to win a world title but also became the first man to stop Page in 29 professional fights. President of the Guyana Boxing Board of Control KD Persaud, who watched Saturday's carnage from ringside, pointed out that the win would boost professional boxing in Guyana. "It was a superb performance and he has shown what being dedicated can reap. I see this as another jump start to boxing in Guyana," Persaud said. Lewis won the vacant World Boxing Association welterweight title and the hearts of boxing fans following a scintillating display against Page at the Conference Centre of the MGM Grand Hotel on Saturday.
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