By Michael DaSilva
Stabroek News
May 18, 2001

Guyana's boxing icon Andrew `Sixhead' Lewis was given a true hero's welcome when he touched down at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri, yesterday aboard a North American Airline carrier at 3.49 p.m.

Guyana's first ever world champion was also a guest at a Civic Reception at City Hall yesterday, where he received the Mayor's Medal (a genuine gold medal) and a plaque from city Mayor Hamilton Green who also promised in the presence of Prime Minister Sam Hinds, that the proposed boxing gym in Albouystown in honour of Lewis will be completed before the end of the year.

Accompanied by his fiancee, his son, his mother and members of his management team including his manager Nelson Fernandes, Lewis was greeted on arrival by Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Gail Teixeira and her Permanent Secretary Keith Booker as well as members of the Guyana Boxing Board of Control, but not before an uncontrollable crowd stormed the airport's tarmac bypassing security personnel.

Some members of the crowd even climbed the stairs to the aircraft before Lewis and his entourage descended to be garlanded by Teixeira who used the opportunity to once again congratulate the champion.

Several of Lewis' relatives broke into tears on seeing the champion exiting the aircraft and this apparently brought tears to the champion's eyes as well.

Lewis' manager, Nelson Fernandes, with tears in his eyes told Stabroek Sport shortly after his arrival. "Your champion has come home and I am very proud of him. I want to thank all the people that were behind him (Lewis) and I thank you for the warm welcome".

Lewis who took some time before reaching the airport's VIP Lounge where he was scheduled to speak for a short while with his welcoming party, never even got the opportunity to do so, as his many supporters and family members crowded him to offer congratulations.

The 30-year old champion however, took time off and told Stabroek Sport "I am here because I went out there and took care of business, you know wah I mean, no other Guyanese did it, Andrew `Sixhead' Lewis did it. I am glad to come home and see that all my fans here to see me, I am glad to make all Guyanese proud, you wha I mean".

Asked how he felt about winning the title and the support he received from Guyanese at home and in the USA during his title fight and the defence of it, Lewis said "I am a true welterweight fighter and a true warrior. I just went to America to create history and I create it".

Lewis said he was very surprised to see so many people at the airport to welcome him home.

When told that there were some Guyanese who think `Sugar' Shane Mosley will beat him (Lewis) if they meet, Lewis said "people have their mouth to talk what they want to talk but I am ready for anybody, anytime".

Lewis who was promised a house and land by President Bharrat Jagdeo when he won the WBA welterweight title on February 17 via a seventh round stoppage of James Page, said, he is looking forward to meeting President Jagdeo and would also like to meet opposition leader Desmond Hoyte.

Lewis said he is happy for the house and land but "I just want a nice area (house lot), a beautiful area, you know wha I mean".

"I am from the ghetto you know wha I mean, but now my life change, you know wha I mean, the youths are now looking up to me so I am here to take care of business" Lewis said.

Asked how he feels that only one day is set aside for him to meet with his family and friends in Albouystown, Lewis said "I will try the best to see what I can do, I can't run away from my people and I will try to see what I can do about that".

As he made his way down the East Bank Demerara carriageway, residents lined the route waving palm and banana branches as well as handkerchiefs and face rags.

At the civic reception organised by the Mayor and Councillors of Georgetown, at City Hall, Guyana Amateur Boxing Association president K. Juman Yassin who performed the duty of Master of Ceremony, congratulated Lewis on his achievement and stated that he brought glory to Guyana when he won the world title, and pointed out that only the fighter would know the sacrifice he had to make to achieve what he has achieved.

"Andrew has achieved what he has achieved basically on his own hard work, sacrifice and dedication," Yassin said and challenged the nation's young sports men and women to use Lewis's achievement as an example to achieve their goals.

Yassin also made another call on the authorities to do more for sports in Guyana.