World Boxing Association welterweight champion Andrew `Sixhead' Lewis has stepped up sparring for his third title defence scheduled for March 30.

The 31-year-old undefeated Lewis did 22 rounds at the Fernwood Resort in the Pocono Mountain since last Tuesday and according to manager Nelson Fernandez is almost ready to stake his claim as the best welterweight boxer in the world.

Reports reaching Stabroek Sport indicate that Lewis, aka `The Albouystown Cyclone', has been making life unbearable for sparring partners as he whips himself into shape for his fight against Ricardo Mayorga.

The WBA champion started last week with a three-round sparring session against Rogelio Martinez, the junior middleweight champion of Pennsylvania.

Fernandez related that the Guyanese hurt Martinez in the second round with several blows to the body and he (Fernandez) was forced to call a halt to the proceedings in the following round.

Lewis, a southpaw, turned his attention to World Boxing Association Youth welterweight champion Kermit Cintron on Wednesday.

Describing the session as one where Lewis held the upper hand from the beginning, Fernandez stated that the sparring was prematurely stopped in the third round when Cintron's manager/trained decided that his charge had had enough of the champion.

Last Friday the hard-hitting Lewis was back in the ring with Cintron but this time went on an all out body attack. Fernandez claimed that the following day the WBA champion out-jabbed Derrick Parks (17-1) for three rounds then did a similar amount of rounds against Martinez when he again mounted a body attack.

Yesterday Lewis was scheduled to go three rounds each with Cintron and Martinez. The champion's handlers have contracted former world rater Larry `Lazer' Marks as another sparring partner.

Marks is expected at Fernwood early next month. Lewis and Mayorga will meet for the second time within a year at the Sovereign Centre in Reading, Pennsylvania.

The two first met in July last year when a clash of heads resulted in the champion sustaining cuts over both eyes in round two resulting in the fight being declared a technical draw and Lewis retaining his crown.

The fight is the main bout on a card that will feature two other world title bouts.

The supporting bout pits Cory Spinks (IBF number one) against Michele Piccirillo (IBF number two) for the IBF welterweight title, made vacant after champion Vernon Forrest was stripped late last year.

WBA featherweight champion Derrick `Smoke' Gainer (38-5) defends his crown against WBA number one ranked Daniel Seda (18-1). The two welterweight fights will be televised live on the Showtime Channel.

Lewis, who hails from the impoverished Albouystown area, became the first Guyanese, fighting under the Golden Arrowhead, to win a world title when he knocked out James Page in round seven last February.

The victory sparked unprecedented celebration in his homeland and prompted president Bharrat Jagdeo to declare a national holiday in his honour.