Willard Lewis whips provincial opponents

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The new Alberta senior gold medallist is clearly the master of his class.

Willard Lewis ploughed through his opponents with grace and determination to win the Alberta Provincial Senior Open gold at Spruce Grove March 21. Referees stopped Lewis's bouts early. He was clearly the better fighter in both fights, showing greater punch ability, strength and experience.

Lewis, who fights out of the Indian Nations Boxing Club in Hobbema, faced Conrad Augustin of Edmonton's Hortie Boxing Club in the final on Sunday afternoon. Taller, lanky Augustin made a game attempt to stay in the ring, but Lewis bloodied his nose and forced a standing eight count in the first round through some inside combinations and his overpowering left jab.

The second round started with a flurry from both fights, with Lewis quickly gaining the edge. The two opponents clutched a while, then broke apart and the compact Lewis went to work. He opened a cut over Augustin's left eye with a left hook, and deal with powerful body blows. Two standing eight counts later, the referee stopped the contest.

Saturday night, Kirby Russel from Edmonton's South Side Legion Boxing Club fought Lewis. But the fight stopped almost before it began when Lewis creamed Russel with a left, splitting his left eyebrow. The bout was stopped less than halfway through the round on medical advice because of Russel's injury. Fans who had anticipated the bout through the 19 before it left disappointed.

Lewis's coach, Jim Gilio, who also coached heavyweights Ken Lakusta and Danny Stonewalker, says that Lewis "will be the finest, the best of them." He won a bronze medal at the World Championship in November.

They have their sights set on the national championships in December and the Commonwealth Games in Victoria in the summer of 1994.

"The Commonwealth Games are a realistic goal for Willard," Gilio says.

"This competition was pretty tough," said Lewis moments after winning the gold. "I'm pretty satisfied with the way I fought. Now, I've got to work to get on top."

Lewis lives and stays in shape at home near Lac La Biche, travelling to Hobbema a few days before a bout to sharpen up. His international record is seven wins and three losses; overall it is "something like 70 and 10," according to Gilio.

Being a heavyweight for the first time has been a bit of an adjustment, Lewis says, but for the first time he's not worrying about weight before a competition. He weighed in at about 185 lbs, last weekend. Gilio expects him to be a powerful 195 by the time he faces his next major hurdle.

Gilio and Jim Titley, organizer of the events for the Spruce Grove Boxing Club, both stress Lewis's potential as a positive role model. "Willard Lewis can be a very positive image for kids in the native community," Titley says. "But he can take pride in being a symbol, too. It will work both ways, helping him and helping those who look up to him."

"Willard is an excellent role model, particularly in Lac La Biche and Hobbema.

He has a tremendous future in the native community. He is educated and will continue his education," said Gilio. Lewis plans to enrol in college this fall.