Guyana's Andrew `Sixhead' Lewis remained the World Boxing Association (WBA) welterweight champion after his bout against Ricardo Mayorga ended in a no contest in Los Angeles Saturday night.

Lewis' rumble with the wild Costa Rican and WBA number one ranked fighter was adjudged a no contest in the second round when the Guyanese sustained gashes over both eyes following an accidental head butt.

The cuts, the first of Lewis' professional career, forced ringside doctor to call a halt to the bout with only seven seconds gone in the second stanza. The injuries will put the `Albouystown Cyclone out of action for 90 days.

Lewis' manager Nelson Fernandez told Stabroek Sport that the champion was examined by a plastic surgeon minutes after the bout and received 12 stitches above the left eye and six over the left.

"Such cuts carry a 60-day suspension but the plastic surgeon advised that he not be hit there for 90 days," Fernandez said.

Lewis, 30, will take a two week rest then go back into the gym. "There will be no sparring for 90 days," said his manager.

The southpaw Lewis said he wasn't happy with the way the fight ended but is comforted by the fact that he still holds on to his crown.

"I'm just a little disappointed but the main thing is that I still have the title. The guy was wild. My manager told me that he would rush out so I was prepared for it. He was getting tired and I would have knocked him out," Lewis said when contacted at the Los Angeles airport while awaiting to travel back to New York.

The champion claimed that he hurt the 27-year-old Mayorga twice in the first round but that he was never hurt in the abbreviated contest. "I hurt him with a one, two. He never hurt me. I knew that he would have slept within five rounds," the champion declared.

He apologised to his many fans in Guyana for the premature ending of the event but claimed that it was beyond his control.

"To all of Guyana I say that I'm sorry but it was not something that I planned. Anyone could be head butted."

Undefeated in 22 fights, Lewis stated that the referee Marty Denkins, claimed that in the 35 years he has been involved in boxing he had never seen one butt result in two cuts.

Mayorga 22-3-1 (20) rushed the champion from the opening bell and landed with wild swings. Lewis, who uncharacteristically started at a slow pace, countered with a few stiff combination later in the even round.

The butt occurred when the champion was about to throw a straight left from his southpaw stance.

"Mayorga was hurt on two occasions during the first round. I think that `Six' went away from the game plan a little but it was evident that he would have knocked out Mayorga," Fernandez said.

It is the second time in less than a year that a head butt resulted in a no contest when a Guyanese fighter was involved in world title fight.

Last August Rawle Frank's attempt at the vacant IBF welterweight title was dashed when a accidental butt from Vernon Forrest caused a stoppage of the fight in round three.

Fernandez explained that the result pushes back any plans his camp had of facing WBC champion `Sugar' Shane Mosley since Lewis must first have a rematch with Mayorga.

"We expect this rematch to be held in December and may be on the undercard of a Mosley bout." Lewis received over US$300,000, the largest purse ever by a Guyanese fighter, for Saturday's bout, while Mayorga collected just over US$100,000.

On his arrival in Los Angeles the champion was presented with a `Welcome to Los Angeles' certificate which was signed by Mayor James Hahn and Councillor Jan Perry. The certificates and presentation ceremony were arranged by Guyana's Honourary Council in California Joseph D'Oliveira.