By Emmerson Campbell
Former WBA world welterweight champion, Andrew ‘Sixhead’ Lewis has been incognito ever since dropping a split decision verdict to Howard Eastman in October 2008.
Rumours of his prolonged hiatus from the ring ranged from being content with lucrative earnings in his heyday to not having the desire to train any longer.
Lewis, 43, however is back in the gym training for his first bout in six years. Guyana’s first world champion is scheduled to face Jamaica’s Sakima Mullings for the WBC CABOFE welterweight crown on February 28 in the ‘Land of Wood and Water’.
Talk of a Mullings/Lewis bout was brewing last year but turned out to be hot air as negotiations fell through.
However the promoters are optimistic that the contracts will be signed soon and the fight will come off in three months.
Once the ink dries, it would mean that Lewis 23(20)-4(3)-2 will end a six-year ring absence against Mullings 17(12)-1-0 who has won his last five fights within the distance.
The skilful 32-year-old from Stony Hill, Jamaica is also the reigning Contender Series champion. When Stabroek Sport visited Lewis at the Forgotten Youth Foundation Gym in Albouystown on Monday, he boasted that Mullings is not in his league and the bout will be used to reignite his career.
“He (Mullings) is a good opponent, he is a challenge but I have accepted it and ready to show the doubters that I still have it. Age is just a number and I feel good and my mind told me to get in the ring. I’m an ex world champion, I still have good legs and he doesn’t have what I have. I’m a different package.”
So why a ring return after six years?
“My mind is always on boxing” Lewis highlighted. “Boxing is in me and someone will really have to hurt me for me to hang it up.” The southpaw is ready for the challenge and insisted that money is not the issue. “Money goes and comes, but I still have money, I don’t have the big money that I had before but I have money, I survive every day. The ex-champion is coming out to do what he has to do and do the right things to win.” Lewis is back in the spotlight and talking the talk. Whether or not he can walk the walk against Mullings in his prime will be known in February.
