Cantatore by five
- 'Big Truck' Braithwaite
By Steve Ninvalle
Stabroek News
October 11, 2002
Wayne `Big Truck' Braithwaite weighed in at a trim 184 pounds in Italy yesterday morning and moments later promised that his opponent Vincenzo Cantatore will be knocked out before the end of round five.
"I was a world champion since I started boxing. This fight will just make it official," Braithwaite told Stabroek Sport in a telephone interview yesterday.
Braithwaite and Cantatore meet today at 11 pm Italian time (5 pm local time) in a town just outside to decide who will win the vacant World Boxing Council cruiserweight title. The fight has been postponed several times.
"I know that this is what every boxer dreams of. I am ready and waiting for Cantatore. This is what is called the day of reckoning," Braithwaite said.
The undefeated power-puncher expressed disappointment that no member of the government nor the Guyana Boxing Board of Control had seen it fit to contact him.
"Man! I have been treated like a step child. I would just have to take a telephone call like you did. It was done for others so why not me. Should I take it that the president of my country is so busy that he can't call to say good luck. Or is the president of the Boxing Board also so busy," Braithwaite asked.
However, the World Boxing Council number one ranked cruiserweight assured that the "ill-treatment" has only made him more determined to destroy Cantatore.
"I'll take out my anger on him. I want the people of Guyana especially those in Plaisance and Keith Bazilio, to know that I'll only return to Guyana champion. Trainer Colin Morgan and Maurice `Bizzy' Boyce expressed confidence that Guyana will have its second world champion today. "Wayne is just calm and waiting to kill this guy. I know that this will not go to round five. I'm confident, Morgan said.
According to Boyce the Guyanese is both mentally and physically prepared for the big day. We'll keep the Guyana flag waving high and surely Wayne will be champion," Boyce said.
Cantatore, an Italian who has lost twice weighed in at the 190 pound Cruiserweight limit. Boyce said that a delayed broadcast of the fight will be shown on ESPN2 tonight and called on the whole of Guyana to watch.