Wayne `Big Truck' Braithwaite will make his third defence of the World Boxing Council crusierweight title in March of next year. Braithwaite is scheduled to fight O'Neil `Give Em Hell' Bell on a card to be promoted by Don King.
However, the `Big Truck' would have much preferr5ed to lay hands on James Nathaniel Toney, aka `Lights Out'.
The champion broke the news in a recent telephone interview with Stabroek Sport. "I was told this week (last week) that Bell will be the challenger for my title in March," Braithwaite said.
"I would have love to put my hands on Toney instead. I'm really vexed that I can't lay my hands on him." James Toney, who won the IBF crusierweight title following a bruising encounter with Toney won the International Boxing Federation cruiserweight title via a 12-round decision on April 26 following a bruising encounter with champion Vassily Jirov.
Toney, 35, then moved up in October to tackle heavyweight Evander Hollyfield who he knocked out in round nine. Since then he has relinquished his IBF title to remain in the more lucrative heavyweight division.
"I would have beaten Toney hands down," Braithwaite declared.
Bell, an American and Braithwaite were supposed to meet this year but Bell, the mandatory challenger, withdrew making way for Luis Pineda, who the champion stopped in the first round earlier this month.
The NABF and USBA champion, Bell whose record of 22-1-1 (with 21 KOs) is just as imposing as Braithwaite's, last fought on Friday when he knocked out Derrick Harmon in round eight.
Braithwaite, undefeated in 20 fights, disclosed that his preparation for the upcoming fight will begin next month. "I have taken a break and will return to training in January," the champion said from Brooklyn, New York.
The 28-year-old became the first representative of Guyana to win two successive title defences when he steamrolled Pineda in Atlantic City on December 13.
He extended gratitude to Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Gail Tiexeira who he declared was one of "very few" who offered congratulations.
"I just want to say thanks to her for showing appreciation. She is the only one that did something like that. I would also like to thank all the people of Plaisance and more so in Guyana for supporting me. I did not fail you. My trainer Colin Morgan, Maurice `Bizzy' Boyce, John Douglas, Curtis Jones and many others who supported me."