THE betting boys in the United States yesterday gave a clear indication who their money was on to win tomorrow's world welterweight title bout as champion Andrew `Sixhead' Lewis ended the day as the favourite.

Up to press time yesterday evening Guyana's Lewis was at 265 while challenger Ricardo Mayorga came in at +225. Stabroek Sport understands that the odds mean one would have to place a bet of $265 dollars on Lewis to win $100 while a bet of $100 dollars on Mayorga earns $225.

The odds may change after this evening's weigh-in but the champion is still expected to hold on to the advantage. Earlier yesterday, afternoon Lewis received a pep talk, via telephone, from one of his staunchest supporters, His Excellency president Bharrat Jagdeo. Just before going to gym for a late afternoon workout Lewis disclosed that he was elated to receive the call from the President and that, he had promised to keep Guyana's flag flying. "Mr. Jagdeo asked me to remain focused and to keep on doing what I am doing. He told me that all of Guyana is behind me, " Lewis said. "I want to tell the entire Guyana that they should never worry about `Sixhead'.

I'm going to take care of my business and their business," the WBA champion pledged. The champion hovered around 152 pounds before entering the gym and reiterated that making 147 pounds would not pose a problem. "Making the weight is nothing for me or Guyana to worry about. As I said, everything is going to be all right. People don't you worry," the champion urged.

Trainer Edgar `Butch' Sanchez reassured that any worry Guyanese have about the fight should be pushed to aside and confirmed that the champion was in the best shape ever. "`Six's condition is superior to any he has had. He was super when he fought James Page. He is double times that now," Sanchez said.

Meanwhile, Mayorga continued his taunting of the champion but received a setback when Lewis' manager Nelson Fernandez took up a challenge to place a US$50,000 bet on the fight. The Nicaraguan born Mayorga, who now fights out of Costa Rica, claimed that he wanted to put $50,000 on himself to win but soon after shied away when Fernandez came forward. "We indeed wanted to take that bet but they said never mind. We were serious but they were not, Fernandez said. Lewis will earn more than US$330,000 for the fight, a record by any Guyanese.

Already several Guyanese have started trickling into Pennsylvania to give support to their local hero with many more expected today and tomorrow morning.

The weight-in is schedule for the Sovereign Centre at 5 p.m. this afternoon.