Jr middleweight, next world title, retirement - 'Sixhead' Lewis
By Steve Ninvalle
Stabroek News
April 21, 2003
Former World Boxing Association welterweight champion Andrew 'Sixhead' Lewis returned home last week for a one month vacation during which he will relax and make "serious" decisions about the future of his career.
'The Albouystown Cyclone' disclosed that among other things he is contemplating retirement and a possible shuffle around of his training team.
Lewis said that after losing a bid for a second world title to Mexican Antonio Margarito in February he has toyed with the idea of making an exit from the sport that has made him a household name in Guyana and the Caribbean.
"I plan on giving it another year or so. I still think that I have a lot left in me so after another world title fight I think that I'll call it a day."
Although the former champion did not give a reason for pondering retirement, the two defeats in his last three fights comes quick to mind.
The Guyanese lost his title after being knocked out in the fifth round by a wild-swinging Nicaraguan named Ricardo Mayorga in March of 2002.
He came back to stop journey man Oscar Delgado in the first round in December in a fight held in Puerto Rico. Lewis then challenged Margarito for the World Boxing Organisation title but was stopped in the second round.
Questioned on his last defeat Lewis again blamed weight problems for the lost to Margarito. "I have to move up in weight if I'm to stay in boxing. It's no secret that I can't make welterweight anymore," the former champion said. "I'll be much stronger as a junior middleweight," he added.
Lewis complained of being weak going into the Margarito contest and assured that a move up to the 154-pound division should take care of that problem.
"I returned home to relax and make serious decisions. I know that I don't have a whole lot of time and I have to do the best with what (time) is left," Lewis, who will turn 33 on December 14 said.
After suffering his first professional defeat to Mayorga last year, Lewis had disclosed that he was having weight problems and had even contemplated changing his training team.
However, this time around he only briefly lighted on the subject. "My decision deals with my whole career. It deals with everything that can make `Sixhead' a better fighter and I think training is a part of that."
Lewis defeated James Page in February 2001 to become the first representative from Guyana to win a world title. The victory sparked unprecedented celebration across the country which had waited since September 13, 1980 when Patrick Forde lost to Salvador Sanchez for the WBA featherweight title, for a son to be crowned.
