World Boxing Council cruiserweight champion Wayne `Big Truck’ Braithwaite is no lover of gambling but like most people is willing to take a chance on a sure bet.

Come Friday, Braithwaite will be putting his money on `Classy’ Cassius Matthews.

Braithwaite was adamant that Matthews would win the contest easily and claimed Thomas lacks the ability.

“`Crusher does not have the skills that Cassius has. If Cassius is half the fighter I knew then he should have no problem taking care of Thomas,” the WBC champion said.

Matthews and Thomas meet in the main fight of a Smart Touch Promotion card at the MSC ground this Friday. The two will battle for the vacant junior welterweight title of Guyana on the card sponsored by Banks DIH Limited and Nigel’s Supermarket.

It is the third time that the two will be fighting as professionals.

Both fighters have made public their hatred for each other with the older Thomas, a self-proclaimed chicken hawk, promising to tear the heart out of his opponent.

Since the announcement of the fight Matthews has remained in seclusion in Linden and has only offered a single interview. Then he labeled his opponent an “old man” and promised to force Thomas into retirement.

In retaliation, Thomas, a former junior-welterweight champion of Guyana, launched a verbal attack reminiscent of none he has done in the ring, calling on the promoter to have an ambulance ready for Matthews.

However, Braithwaite was unfazed by all Thomas’ words. “Crusher has one style. He just wants to throw a big punch.”

“The first time that they fought Cassius won and they gave it a draw.

“The second time Cassius could have knocked `Crusher’ out but he preferred to clown around and that made `Crusher’ come back to win the bout.

“This time I will have to go with Cassius,” Braithwaite concluded.

In the supporting fights on the card which pits Linden against Georgetown, Orlan `The Pocket Rocket’ Rogers battles Mark `Pit Bull’ Rogers of Georgetown in a six round Bantamweight contest.

Earlier in the year Rogers roughed up a much taller but hesitant Sean Pile to win the heart of Linden when Smart Touch held its first card for 2003 in the mining town.

Geraldine Cox, more known in America Street for her culinary skills, returns to the ring against Pamela `The Grenade’ London in a four-round catch weight contest.

Young Lions Gym take on Mike Carryl’s Gym in an amateur contest.