By Steve Ninvalle
Guyana's lone world boxing champion has set aside his propensity for breaking records and switched to a new hobby.
Stabroek News
July 13, 2001
While sparring at the Fernwood Resort in Philadelphia on Sunday The `Albouystown Cyclone' Andrew `Sixhead' Lewis dismissed any question of his power when he broke the ribs of sparring partner Gilberto Quiroz.
Contacted by phone yesterday Nelson Fernandez confirmed that an omni potent right hook broke two of Quiroz's left side ribs and fractured another to send an ominous warning.
"He (Quiroz) fell like a ton of bricks after the punch and we had to rush him to hospital for treatment," Fernandez said. Lewis is in the Poconos Mountain in Philadelphia preparing for the second defence of the World Boxing Association (WBA) title he won after knocking out James Page in February.
"`Six' is a lot stronger and faster than when he was training for Page or Marks. He is just banging his sparring partners. It is amazing," Fernandez remarked.
Quiroz has since been sidelined by the injury and will leave on Tuesday, his original return date. He is not the only sparring partner to be roughed up by the hard hitting former resident of Albouystown, his manager declared.
Fernandez claimed that on Tuesday a barrage of punches forced Dennis Sharp to quit with a bruised rib. Sharp has since left the Fernwood Resort.
Also left in the `Albouystown Cyclone's wake of destruction were Alexis Perez and Antwuan Barret both of whom had facial laceration when they quit the resort.
This has led to Fernandez securing the service of Kofi Jantuah who is ranked fourth by the WBC. Jantuah is expected in today.
"He has been knocking his sparring partners left and right. It has been hard keeping the right people in there with him," Fernandez said.
"I told him that I have never seen him this strong and he agreed. Also now he is very focused." The undefeated Lewis clashes with another hard hitter in Ricardo Mayorga at the Staples Centre in Los Angeles on July 28.
The upcoming bout will fetch the champion over US$300,000 which broke Terrence Alli's record for the highest purse secured by a Guyanese boxer.
That fight is on a card that features IBF, WBA and WBC light heavyweight champion Roy Jones. Since being encamped at the resort late last month Lewis has sparred a total of 89 rounds. The first week of sparring produced 28 rounds and the second 31.
This week, Lewis' third of sparring, has already seen the champion doing 30 rounds. Yesterday he did five rounds and will complete glove work on July 23 one day before he leaves for Los Angeles.