‘Big Truck’ title fight off again
By Steve Ninvalle
Stabroek News
July 16, 2002
The world title fight between Guyana’s Wayne `Big Truck’ Braithwaite and Italian Vincenzo Cantatore has been put off for a record third time.
No new date has been given for the battle for the vacant World Boxing Council cruiserweight title but internet web site Fightnews.com has reported that legal and contractual issues was the major reason for the postponement.
Contacted yesterday Braithwaite’s mother Claire, who has been assisting with some of the managerial duties, would only say that she was still awaiting word from the WBC.
“I’m still waiting on a reason from the WBC and the promoter. We understand that the fight will be staged sometime in September,” the elder Braithwaite told Stabroek Sport.
The WBC number one ranked cruiserweight was not available for comment yesterday but his trainer Colin Morgan expressed great frustration over the issue.
“I really don’t know what is happening here but this is one silly piece of sh.. If it was up to me this fight would have been over long ago,” Morgan declared.
Morgan said that himself and Braithwaite were due to leave for Italy last night but were contacted on Saturday with the dreaded news. He has since given the boxer time off from training.
“We had collected our visa and tickets and were scheduled to leave tonight (last night). This thing has really stressed me out. I think that it is stressing everybody out,” Morgan said while declining to go into reasons for the postponement.
However, an informed source disclosed that Braithwaite may have contributed to the latest development.
“At the moment many things are not clear. I think that the WBC will be making a statement on the matter very soon,” the source said.
Braithwaite, undefeated in 17 professional fights, was scheduled to match gloves with the WBC number two ranked Cantatore on June 1 in Rome. But the Italian was then diagnosed with sciatica which caused the fight to be pushed back to July 4 that was later pushed to July 25.
Braithwaite’s royal round around is reminiscent of that endured by compatriot Andrew ‘Sixhead’ Lewis before he finally cornered James Page in February of last year enroute to being the first Guyanese world champion.