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Angel DeJesus is the head trainer for undefeated WBA welterweight champion, Andrew "Sixhead" Lewis (21 0 1, 19 KO's). Lewis will be making his 3rd defense of the title he won on February 17, 2001 with a 7th round TKO of former champ James Page.
On March 30, at the new 9,000 seat Sovereign Centre in Reading, Pennsylvania, United States. Lewis will take on #1 ranked Nicaraguan Ricardo "El Matador " Mayorga (23 3 1, 21 KO's) in a rematch. Lewis, from Georgetown, Guyana, now fighting out of Brooklyn, New York, and Mayorga fought to a two round technical draw on July 28, 2001, in Los Angeles. In that bout, an accidental clash of heads opened a deep cut on the left eyelid of the champ in the opening seconds of the 2nd round, and the bout, which looked to be an explosive one, was stopped. "I'm disappointed the fight didn't go longer. After I heal, I will give him a rematch," is what Lewis said at the time. True to his word, the bout is on. The bout will be televised on Showtime Championship Boxing.
Angel is training Sixhead at the Fernwoods Resort, in Bushkill, Pennsylvania. He took some time to answer a few questions for Fightnews.
Andrew `Sixhead' Lewis (right) and his manager Nelson Fernandez during their visit to Guyana last year following the fighter's world title win.
FN: How is Andrew's training coming along?
AD: He's looking good. Today, he boxed 6 rounds with Kermit Cintron, and Kermit didn't win a round. Kermit's a good fighter.
FN: What did you think of Vernon's win?
AD: You know, Forrest called up Nelson (Fernandez, Six's manager) to wish Six Heads well. It was nice of him. He said he wants to fight us next.
FN: Do you think Vernon will come up to watch?
AD: I hope so. HBO wants to make that fight. But, we have to work on this fight with Mayoraga first. We have to stay above water.
FN: Sixhead has something to prove in this one. How will he handle it?
AD: We have to box for the first 5 rounds, and then take it to him.
FN: Is the cut from the first fight 100% healed?
AD: Yes. We have been boxing for 3 weeks now, and the cut looks good. The doctor did a good job on the cut.
FN: Who else is Andrew sparring with besides Kermit Citron?
AD: He is sparring with Kid Martinez, who beat Bobby Heath for the state title. Tomorrow we will box with Cintron amd Martinez for at least 10 rounds.
FN: What is Andrew's schedule?
AD: He goes to bed at 10pm, and gets up at 5am for roadwork. He will run for about 45 minutes. Ali will have his breakfast ready and then he jumps in the shower, and then he goes back to sleep. He gets up at 11 in time for Jerry Springer (laughs). He loves that show because of all the crazy people. After that his cousin Peter takes him sight seeing and looks out for him real well. Six loves to look good and he loves to shop. After that we box.
FN: He looks great. What is his weight today, 3 weeks out?
AD: Today he weighed 151 pounds, and is looking real good.
He looks so good, and is so eager to fight. How do you keep him from overtraining?
AD: We never overtrain our fighters. This is our third world champion. Our first was WBC super bantamweight champ Hector Acero Sanchez. Our second was Beibis Mendoza, WBA 105 pound champ, and Sixhead, the WBA welterweight champ, so we know how to keep a fighter ready to rock and roll. We have been there many times.
FN: Sixhead is coming off a long layoff. What does Andrew do between fights?
AD: A week after his last fight, Sixhead walks into the gym after he was given a month off. Nelson (manager Nelson Fernandez) goes, "6, what are you doing here man?" Six says, "I have it and I want to keep it," meaning his being the champ. We all look at each other and say, 'Wow'. Yes, we do have to slow him down. He gives us 150% every day. Boxing is in his blood. He loves boxing, and he also knows he has to follow our game plan to be successful.