Guyanese and international superstar boxing champion Andrew “Six Heads” Lewis, who was on the cusp of making a comeback in the ring, died tragically while riding his motorbike on the East Bank Demerara, in his homeland.
The champ was pronounced dead on Monday, May 4. He was 44.
The boxing community and fans alike were thrown into a state of mourning after hearing their golden boy whose new manager, Keith Bazilio had big plans to re-energize the fighter for a thrilling comeback.
Bazilio, who said the champ had developed a new perspective to the sport, and had a pleasing work ethic, was impressed with Lewis’ hand speed and techniques, according to Guyana’s Kaiteur News.
Lewis said he was tagged “Six Heads” in an amateur tournament in Georgetown when he was 7 when an opponent who had been knocked down by him a few times refused to continue to fight, demanding “‘I’m not fighting no more. I see six heads in front of me.”
The Georgetown-born showman, who had some success in his homeland, became known for his knockout punch.
Lewis was fierce competitor in the ring, and had Guyanese glued to their television sets when he fought his way from his small town to the big time of the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
Prominent boxing promoter Seon Bristol said Lewis, a former welterweight champion, who won the WBA title in February 2001 with a seventh-round stoppage of James Page years, was a disciplined and determined fighter who trained hard to be successful.
“Six Heads” never trained to fight, he was always prepared to defeat his opponent and was indeed ready to return to the ring,” said Bristol, who witnessed the champ prepare to fight the late Hector “Macho” Camacho.
Bristol who was associated with legendary Guyanese female fighters Gwendolyn, O’Neil and Shonell Alfred, as well as Vivian Harris, Wayne “Big Truck” Braithwaite, Elton “Collie Bully” Dharry, and Clive Atwell, to name a few, praised Lewis for his outstanding contribution to the sport.
“I had first-hand experience of how hard Six Heads worked to make a comeback”, added Bristol.
Rated at Middleweight Light Middleweight Welterweight, Lewis moved to Brooklyn in 1996, and created history, with a series of knockouts, winning his next 12 bouts over the next four years.
Despite not getting the exposure he deserved during his time with Don King, said one source, Six Heads prevailed to fight for a world title, exciting fans along the way.
Six Heads’ last fight was in October 2008 that ended in a split decision defeat to Howard Eastman.
