Top boxer may train in province

Page 8

Canadian cruiser weight boxing champion Willard Lewis, an Alberta Cree now living in Edmonton, is stirring up interest in Saskatchewan where Indian gaming operators are lining up to get a piece of the action.

Although the 23-year-old professional fighter has been a known factor for some years to some of Saskatchewan's boxing fans and promoters, that awareness and interest expanded last fall when Lewis was one of several guest sports figures featured at the first annual National Sport, Culture and Recreation Conference in Saskatoon. In fact, Lewis was one of the most popular targets at the conference for photographers and autograph-seekers.

At the time, Lewis - also known as Red Thunder Rock - was already the subject of much talk, having been asked to attend a training camp in Miami, Florida, by none other than Lou Duva who handles such world-renowned figures as heavyweight champ Evander Holyfield. That invite never went anywhere because Lewis was working in Alberta at the time and couldn't get away.

Now that the door has been opened again, Lewis intends to take Duva up on his offer. He's scheduled to leave Edmonton on March 15 for a two week program under Duva's tutelage. Then he'll return to Canada and Duva will work Lewis' corner in a scheduled April 8 fight in Regina against an as-yet- unnamed opponent.

The power puncher who is all business when he steps into the ring, now sports a perfect pro record of 15 wins (12 by knockout) and no losses. In addition, he's scored three other wins in non-sanctioned fights.

Eugene Arcand, a board member of the Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority, admits the board supports Lewis as he pursues his dream of a world title, but Arcand said he is not in any position just yet to publicly say anything regarding how far the gaming authority may go in assisting the fighter.

Still another believer who sees a bright future for Lewis is Neil Sasakamoose, marketing director for the Golden Eagle Casino in Battleford.

Sponsorship is something Lewis has been needing badly. He has difficulty getting adequate sparring partners and could use more exposure in the American market, said Sasakamoose.

"He's ranked Number 6 in the world," he said. "We'll only have him for a while and then he'll be out of reach. We have an interest in him and will know more after his April fight in Regina."

Fight promoter and former Canadian heavyweight champion, Ken Lakusta from Big Bang Boxing in Edmonton, is shopping around in Saskatchewan with Lewis in tow to drum up interest and support from some of the First Nations in the province.

A close associate and cornerman for Lewis, Edmonton's Harold Burden, speculates that the Regina pro/am fight card could attract an estimated 7,000 fans. The undercard will also feature one of Saskatchewan's more promising Aboriginal fighters in the person of golden gloves champion, Dana Laframboise.

Talk is also circulating about a fight card in May, with Lewis as the headliner, hopefully against the Canadian light-heavyweight champion, Dale Brown from Calgary. It happens to be a match-up Lewis has been dying to get into.

If the Brown-Lewis fight transpires in Regina, said Burden, it has an excellent chance of drawing the largest boxing crowd that city has seen in some time.