Asks Emmerson Campbell
State funerals are usually reserved for Presidents and standout Prime Ministers so perhaps that home going honour is out of the question for our latest fallen hero, Andrew ‘Sixhead’ Lewis.
But what other posthumous award/s does Guyana’s first world champion deserve?
According to president of the Guyana Boxing Board of Control (GBBC), Peter Abdool:“I am in favour of it (state funeral), I would love to see him have all of that, but I’m not sure that he qualifies for that honour.”
Abdool added that Lewis was clearly recognized as national hero and that his achievements should not to be tarnished but should be honoured.
“He is a true national hero and a treasure to Guyana, it is a terrible loss for us. He was the single person that placed Guyana on the boxing map and he should be honored posthumously.”
Lewis was most remembered for a seventh-round stoppage of American James Page on February, 17, 2001 in Las Vegas to win the World Boxing Association (WBA) welterweight title, the nation’s first.
During his professional career which spawned 15 years (1993-2008), the skillful southpaw compiled a record of 23 wins, four losses and two draws with 20 of his wins coming by way of knockout.
Some members of the boxing fraternity believe that Lewis should receive a State-sponsored homegoing for transforming Guyana’s history in a positive way.
After all he was and forever will be the nation’s first ever world boxing champion.
Steve Ninvalle, president of the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA), reminded Stabroek Sport yesterday that the association recognized Lewis’ contribution to the sport by constructing a gym in his childhood neighborhood that bears his name.
“Now that he had passed on, it would be prudent to open discussions on posthumous honors for our beloved hero, maybe the AA or the CCH or the OR.”
The untimely death of the CAC silver medalist on Monday in a vehicular accident on the Friendship public road has left a deep void in the boxing world.
In his prime, Lewis fought former world raters, Ricardo Mayorga, Antonio Margarita, Larry Marks and Howard Eastman.
After winning the WBA world welterweight title in 2001, ‘Sixhead’ deservedly was rewarded by the government in many ways.
Posthumous honors should certainly be bestowed on Lewis for representing the Golden Arrowhead at the pinnacle of the ‘sweet science’.
A date for Lewis’ funeral is still undecided but will be announced in a subsequent article.
