'Vicious' and 'Big Truck' swing into GT
Don't party too hard, cautions Mayor
Stabroek News
November 9, 2002
Hundreds of Guyanese swarmed the City Hall compound yesterday to get a glimpse of Guyana's newest heroes, boxing champions, `Vicious' Vivian Harris and Wayne `Big Truck' Braithwaite.
Harris became the World Boxing Association and International Boxing Association junior welterweight champion and Braithwaite is now the World Boxing Council cruiserweight champion. They were driven from the Timehri airport in a van which had a makeshift boxing ring at the back for the boxers to stand in.
The two wore head ties with the national colours and waved Golden Arrowheads. With their championship belts displayed on their shoulders they gyrated, jumped and waved to the many Guyanese who lined the streets to welcome them home. Music was provided by a large set in a truck filled with residents from Plaisance - Braithwaite's home village.
On entering the City Hall compound the Mayor & City Council (M&CC) City Jammers Steel Orchestra greeted the boxers with the fitting song, R. Kelly's `I am the World's Greatest.'
Mayor Hamilton Green in his address, before the presentation of the mayor's medals and plaques, cautioned the two boxers and all those present that there is need to practice "something called deferred gratification. "I thought I would make a very serious point because we are going to leave here today very jolly and end up in trouble. The two boxers here must be encouraged to enjoy this week they are going to spend with us, but understand that boxing is not about celebration." He pointed out that they have to continue to work hard when they return to the USA and when Guyanese in America want to fete them, "they must say, sorry I have got to go and train... Their training, their eating, must be a priority and we must help them because we don't want any short- term champion," the Mayor said to loud applause. He appeared to be referring to Guyana's first boxing champion, Andrew `Sixhead' Lewis, who lost his title a few months after he won it.
The Mayor said he hopes that whenever the two champions return to Guyana, whoever is Mayor will name some substantial structure or street after them so that they could be remembered for years. "Because we in this country have a bad habit of poor memory," the mayor said. He promised that when the decision for streets to be renamed is made they would have the two champions foremost in the mind.
Empowerment Advisor to the President, Odinga Lumumba said Guyana has not only seen two great champions but two of the world's greatest trainers, Colin Morgan and Lennox Blackmoore.
He told those present not to only remember the boxers but also boxing promoters, the Guyana Boxing Board and the champions' families and friends who supported them through the years. In their brief remarks Harris and Braithwaite thanked all those people who made it possible for them to receive such a warm welcome. They also thanked those who supported them before their fights.
"I am just happy to win the world title for Guyana, and this is not the end, this is just the start," Harris said much to the delight of the crowd.
During the ceremony many fans, lucky enough to get close to the stage, were able to get the autographs of the two champions who did not refuse their requests. (Samantha Alleyne)
