Is Lewis/Howard III worth seeing?
Stabroek News
December 15, 2002
Stabroek Sports’ Steve Ninvalle tells us the answer is clearly, yes!
Some people go by the saying that the second time is better than the first. If that question is thrown out to national junior lightweight champion `Hurricane’ Hugo Lewis he might just shake his head knowingly.
When he fought Vincent Howard for the first time way back in 1996 Lewis was dropped for the first time in his relatively short professional career. Like a true warrior Lewis bounced back to pull off a draw in one of the best junior welterweight bouts in years.
Then last year the two met again for the second time. After ten hectic rounds Howard called it a day making sure that at least for Lewis the second time was better than the first. But is there a saying concerning the third time?
It seems that only time will tell. Lewis and Howard have already said `Let’s do it again’. The Guyana Boxing Board of Control has already picked up the mantle and put down December 26 as the date for what is expected to be a banger.
Since his last victory over Howard the 28-year-old Lewis journeyed to the United States of America where he has been under the eye of Colin Morgan. The determined pugilist racked up three victories within six months to keep his unbeaten streak intact.
And he is now ready to return home to stake his claim.
The GBBC has thrown in the vacant Caribbean Boxing Association junior lightweight among prizes for the winner. But is a Lewis/Howard bout worth a third viewing? Without a doubt the answer is a clear yes.
Both fighters have something to prove and not to be taken lightly is the fact that the two have enough bad blood between them to poison a nation. The extent of the bitterness was highlighted after their last meeting. Howard complained bitterly that Lewis had used illegal tactics to gain the victory.
He stated that the Lewis camp rubbed some offensive substance on his body late in the fight resulting in burning of Howard’s eyes and nose. Howard claimed that as the reason for him choosing not to continue.
But the late Andrew Murray, Lewis’ manager at that time declared that Howard was just a sour loser.
Murray explained that if the offensive substance was rubbed on Lewis it would have affected him (Lewis) also since the fighters kept rubbing against each other throughout the fight.
So this time around both fighters are expected to be on their Ps and Qs and if the upcoming bout is half of what the last one was spectators are in for another big treat.
