‘Big Truck’ in quest of world title tonight
Guyana Chronicle
October 11, 2002
AFTER multiple delays, Guyana’s Wayne ‘Big Truck’ Braithwaite and Italian Vincenzo Cantatore will finally square off for the vacant World Boxing Council (WBC) cruiserweight tonight in Campione d'Italia, with Salvatore Cherchi staging the show.
The WBC title is currently vacant after Cuban great Juan Carlos Gomez relinquished the belt and moved up to heavyweight, the Mexico-based organisation ordered a clash between the top two contenders to fill the vacancy.
The Braithwaite versus Cantatore clash has been announced and postponed many times, but now everything is set and both fighters looked confident when speaking to the Italian press on Wednesday.
According to Fightnews, Cantatore (27-2) is a big banger, with 26 knockouts in 27 wins, and his only two losses came as a heavyweight, but Braithwaite fought the better competition at 190 lb, with decent wins against Dale Brown and Louis Azille.
Cantatore said that he feels "confident in his power", but he also stated he is in top shape and "ready to go the twelve rounds, if needed."
On the other hand, Braithwaite (17-0) openly stated he feels the need of "a knockout win in order to get the title." In fact, Braithwaite added that he doesn't want his fight to end "like Piccirillo versus Spinks" [Italian fighter Michele Piccirillo outscored Cory Spinks for the vacant IBF welter title on the same site in Campione d'Italia, but the decision was somewhat controversial.
Meanwhile, Public Service Minister Dr Jennifer Westford will represent the government of Guyana at the championship fight.
According to a GINA release, the announcement was made by Head of the Presidential Secretariat and Cabinet Secretary Dr Roger Luncheon at his weekly press briefing.
Dr Luncheon pointed out that Guyana had sent the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Gail Teixeira in a similar capacity when Andrew ‘Sixhead’ Lewis brought home the welterweight title.
Dr Luncheon, the release said, was hoping that the result was the same this time around.