World Boxing Council cruiserweight champion Wayne `Big Truck' Braithwaite is unperturbed that his opponent Luis Pineda weighed in ten pounds heavier yesterday.

The undefeated Braithwaite tipped the scales at 189 pounds, while Pineda came in at an even 199 pounds when the weigh-in was held in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

Braithwaite and Pineda meet at approximately 6 pm Guyana time in one of six world title fights on a card promoted by Don King.

"The ten pounds ain't nothing for me to worry about. He is going down all the way. I'm like Elephant Man. I'm good to go. I can tell you now what will happen [tonight]. I'll still be the WBC champion after the fight is finished," Braithwaite promised Stabroek Sport in a telephone interview.

"I am prepared for 12 rounds but I guarantee that I'll knock him out," the champion said. "He [Pineda] told me at the press conference that he will knock me out in the first round. I warned him that if he doesn't do that then he will be in trouble in the second round."

Pineda was able to break the 190-pound barrier after the WBC made a recent decision to increase the cruiserweight limit to 200 pounds.

The 28-year-old Braithwaite, who has knocked out all but three of his 19 opponents, will be seeking to make history and become the first from this country to win two world title defences.

However, the champion bemoaned the lack of support from his countrymen.

"There was no one here from Guyana at the press conference or at the weigh-in. It seems that I'm still being treated like a stepchild. Every one else had representatives. I didn't even see a media representative from Guyana and this is such a big event," the champion said.

His trainer Maurice `Bizzy' Boyce echoed the same sentiments. "This is such a prestigious event and we have not seen anyone from Guyana. I don't want to get into politics, but Wayne is really being treated rough," Boyce said.