No new date confirmed
- 'Big Truck' Braithwaite
By Steve Ninvalle
Stabroek News
August 4, 2002
Guyana's Wayne `Big Truck' Braithwaite has brushed aside as hearsay word that he will be fighting on September 21 for the vacant World Boxing Council cruiserweight title.
"Right now I really don't know what's going on. Nobody is telling me anything but I'm still in the gym," Braithwaite said from his Brooklyn home yesterday.
"The promoter has not spoken to me. No one has told me anything." The power-puncher stated that the WBC had called his home while he was away proposing a date in September for the fight but declared that nothing had been confirmed.
"People are playing games with this fight but it don't matter to me. When this is all over Wayne Braithwaite will be the world champion.
;Regardless of who I fight and when I fight. The bottom line is that I'll be the champion. It could be Cantatore or anyone else the beating will be the same. I just want the people of Plaisance to know that."
"His Public Relations Consultant Seon Bristol, who is in Guyana for a short holiday agreed. Bristol said that no date has been confirmed although the September 21 date has been dangled by the WBC.
"What needs to be known is that Wayne is ready both mentally and physically. If they call the fight tomorrow he will be ready," Bristol said.
Braithwaite, who will be celebrating his 27th birthday on Friday is without a manager after parting ways with Boxu Putts following a three-year contract which expired on July 17 and is now self managed.
Rated number one by the WBC the undefeated Braithwaite was scheduled fight Italian Vincezo Cantatore for the vacant title on June 1. The fight was then postponed to early in July after the Italian was reported to have sciatica.
July 25 was the next date given for the showdown. That date too was dropped. "My intention was to give myself the title as a birthday gift," Braithwaite said and added that the fight may now be staged in the usa.
Bristol explained that the constant postponing of the fight has affected a plan to provide a travel package for Guyanese wishing to go to Italy for the fight.
"We had to halt all proceedings due to the frequent cancellation of fight dates. Bristol, a cousin of former commonwealth boxing champion Kenny Bristol noted that he is awaiting the announcement of the new fight date before putting plans in gear. This time his travel package will mainly target Guyanese residing in the USA.