Lewis will be Guyana's first two-time world champion
-manager Nelson Fernandez
By Steve Ninvalle
Stabroek News
April 26, 2002
Andrew Lewis will again make Guyana proud by becoming the first from this country to recapture a world boxing title. In an interview with Stabroek Sport Lewis' manager Nelson Fernandez disclosed that WBA champion Ricardo Mayorga was just lucky to win the crown on March 30 but Lewis will rebound to take back the title.
"Six is good and will again be a force in the welterweight division," Fernandez promised.
The manager disclosed that he has been in close contact with promoter Bob Arum who has assured that `The Albouystown Cyclone' will be back in the ring by early July.
"I have spoke at length with Bob Arum and he has assured me that `Six' will fight again in late June or early July and God willing by this time next year we will crown `Six' a world champion again." Lewis lost the WBA crown when he was TKOed in the fifth round by Mayorga. Several prominent Guyanese boxing buffs called for a change of Lewis' trainers.
In response Fernandez, who has managed Lewis for over four years, lashed out at those calling for a change claiming, in his books, there are just bystanders and wannabes.
"I like the fact that all of the persons calling for a change in Lewis's corner have never had a world champion or have been in winning corners of world champions. In life, as in boxing, you have to have a resume in order to get a position or a job. Six's corner has the experience of over 15 world title fights and three world champions. Unless things have changed in the past few hours I know no one in Guyana with that experience and know-how."
He added: "In the United States it is called Monday Morning Quarterbacks. People that think they are the most knowledgeable after the games are done and over with. On Monday they know what and where and how it was supposed to be done. Boxing is one of the few sports in the world that the casual fan and sometimes even the avid fan think they know everything because they have sat in front of a TV and seen a few fights."
Lewis's training team include head trainer Angel De Jesus, Edgar Sanchez and Quinto Soto. Fernandez confirmed that the former champion is scheduled to return home this week but stopped short of giving a date.
"Six's loss was not the fault of anyone in his corner it was Mayorga connecting with a few punches that sent `Six' to the canvas and the fight was stopped. Six will be back and just like he wqas your first world champion he will be your first two-time champion. Mayorga bought a ticket to the lottery (by fighting `Six') and he won that lottery. Not because he was better that `Six', he was just lucky," Fernandez declared.
"I'm surprised to hear you say he (Lewis) had weight problems making the weight when all week leading up to the fight he was eating three healthy portions a day and not having to watch what he eats," Fernandez explained.
But in an interview with Stabroek Sport three days after his first professional defeat Lewis complained of being uncomfortable when making the 147-pound welterweight limit.
"I never really wanted to get into it but there is a slight weight problem I'm not someone to make excuses and this one is not. I really could not eat as I wanted to because I was unsure of if I could have made the weight (welterweight limit). Right now I'm thinking of moving up to 154. I have been fighting as a welterweight for more than 12 years. The time for me to move up may have come. It's not that I can't make the weight but I'm not comfortable making it. In order for me to make the weight I'll have to get a dietician," Lewis said then.
Lewis later indicated that he was uncertain of if he would be looking for a new trainer. "In life you have to make changes. It could be possible that the corner is giving a problem too. I have to sit back and look into everything," the former champion said.