By Eion Jardine
Vernon Lewis, one in a long line of boxers who had distinguished themselves by their fistic careers suffered a stroke earlier this month in the United States of America.
According to former Commonwealth boxing champion and former world rater, Lennox Blackmore, Lewis’ neighbours heard groaning sounds coming from his apartment in Brooklyn on March 13 and rushed him to the Brookdale Hospital. Doctors at the hospital diagnosed that the former welterweight champion of Guyana had suffered a stroke on his left side. He was the hooked up to monitors and machines.
Stabroek Sport learnt that Lewis has so far recovered to the extent that he has been taken off the machines and is speaking.
Lewis, who retired from the fight game in 1982 with a record of 22 fights, 14 wins, six kayoes, and eight losses, had a very interesting career.
His is a triumph of determination and will power. Highly ambitious, Lewis was not blessed with a financial Godfather, but still was able to rise up the boxing ladder and achieved a bit of history from himself by becoming the first Guyanese to fight at the world famous Madison Square Garden.
Lewis was born on June 9, 1949 in Mahaica, an area more noted for producing outstanding sons of the soli like former President Bharrat Jagdeo, and cricketers Colin Croft and Shivnarine Chanderpaul, than boxers.
As a boy, Lewis spent his early childhood days, fighting in the streets.
It was there that he honed his particular skills which were later to serve him in good stead when he decided to enter the professional ranks.
Street fighting in those days was where a boxer learnt the rudiments of the Sweet Science and though he was no Maxi sergeant, Lewis was still able to hold his own on the streets of Mahaica.
After spending a few years in that neighbourhood, he moved to Georgetown where he had a short amateur career but which showed even then that he had a flair for the sport.
Lewis turned professional in 1966 and had his first bout July 31 that same year outpointing Reginald Cyrus over six rounds.
He then put the lights out on Joseph Garraway in six rounds in 1967.
He went on to win three fights beating Young Woodell, Godfrey Alexander, and the veteran Lloyd Shadow George all on points that same year.
His big test came when he fought Roy Harry of Trinidad.
He had been given little chance against the hard hitting Trinidadian in the previews for the fight but Lewis’s aggressiveness and self confidence proved its value and he defeated Harry over 10 rounds.
He was then matched with a man who was considered as the best boxer Guyana has ever seen Lennox Beckles.
That fight took place on May 5 1974 for the welterweight title of Guyana. It resulted in Lewis tasting his first defeat a 15 round decision which went Beckles’ way.
Lewis went on to defeat Enoch Waldron by knockout in round 5 and Felipe Carioca on points.
He challenged Beckles a second time for his title but again fell short,
And, anxious for a return, Lewis took a warm up bout with Alexander disposing of him in three rounds.
Lewis’ mind was set on avenging his two earlier losses to Beckles and finally a third bout was arranged and on July 10 1976 it was sweet revenge for Lewis as he forced Beckles to call it quits in the 11th round.
Lewis became the fifth Guyanese boxer to fight for a Commonwealth title losing to Canadian Clyde Gray on points on December 9 1977 in Trinidad.
He went on to defend the national welterweight title he won from Beckles against the classy Mark Harris and won on points.
The former Guyana Defence Force soldier was later to put on a magnificent performance when he travelled to New York and took on former World champion Wilfredo Benitez, of Puerto Rico, becoming in the process the first Guyanese to fight at Madison Square Garden.
Lewis lost on points in the 10 round contest but had Benitez in all sorts of trouble in the fourth round.
Boxing fans will remember his two fights against Trinidad’s Eddie Marcelle where he lost on both occasions and his stirring victory over Luis Resto.
Resto had earlier defeated Lewis’ countrymen Mark Harris and Reginald Ford.
Resto kayoed Harris in the seventh round on October 1, 1978 and won on points against Ford on February 18, 1979.
But he was to meet his match against a game Lewis when the two titans clashed on August 18, 1979 at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.
His biggest victory, though, was his defeat of Beckles.
All through his career, Lewis had never been knocked out but that was to change when he fought Donald Curry on October 29 1981 in Texas, USA where he was knocked out for the first time in his career by the former world champion in the first round.
He was considered one of the more stylish Guyanese boxers ever and he also had a fondness for children which resulted in him doing humanitarian work along with two of his friends, Dillon and German in the form of feeding the underprivileged children at the West End Gym.
Always fit and as rugged as they come, Lewis served as sparring partners to several boxers including Guyana’s Commonwealth champion Lennox Blackmore.
He is regarded as being instrumental in getting Blackmore into shape for his Commonwealth title fight against Jonathan Dele in Laos, Nigeria on October 1, 1977 and also for Blackmore’s world title crack against Aaron Pryor on June 27, 1981.
