‘Big Truck’ vows to beat the ‘Lion’ into retirement
Guyana Chronicle
April 15, 2004
(From Isaiah Chappelle from New York City in association with North American Airlines, Guyana Oil Company, Guyana Forestry Commission and Ed Beharry & Company Limited)
WORLD Boxing Council Cruiserweight Champion Wayne ‘Big Truck’ Braithwaite, yesterday, vowed to beat Louis ‘The Lion’ Azille into retirement on Don King Promotions’ Night of Title Fights at Madison Square Garden on Saturday night.
At yesterday's press conference at the venue, Braithwaite declared: "The first time it was a mistake (for him), this time it will be worse mistake because this time it will be worse than the first. I will retain my title and remain upbeat. When the night is done he will be a beaten man and I think he will quit after this."
The champion said he was ready to take on the challenger right then and there, because Azille said he was injured before that first encounter.
"He won't make excuses this time and cry like a little girl that he was sick. The only work I going to do is work on his face come Saturday night."
Just before Braithwaite spoke, Azille of Dominica said: "This time is going to be different because the first time I was hurt. When I fight I fight hard. There is no injury this time and it's going to be different. Trust me. He ain't going home with that belt, no matter what he says or anybody says."
Don King introduced Braithwaite, thus: "One of the baddest guys I've seen in this division in a long time, is ‘Big Truck’ Braithwaite."
The promoter told Chronicle Sport after the press conference that the Braithwaite/Azille bout is the beginning of a cruiserweight tournament he is doing, pitting Virgil Hill against Jean Marc Mormack on May 22 in South Africa, and Ezra Sellers and Kelvin Davis on May 1.
"So the cruiserweight is on the move now and Mormack will be fighting the winner of the Braithwaite/Azille fight. So we gonna make history in the cruiserweight division."
Braithwaite will wrap up his training today at the Crunch Gym on 138th Street in Manhattan, New York.
Trainer Colin Morgan told Chronicle Sport that he was "polishing" him.
"Fight after fight he is getting better and better, and sharper and sharper."
Morgan disclosed that for every fight the focus is on different aspects.
"The guy (Azille) is square up and coming forward, so we're giving him some angles, uppercut in the middle. But I don't want to give out more."
Chronicle Sport pointed out that Braithwaite has beaten Azille already, but Morgan said he was not "over" confident.
"The guy lost and he would want to win now. He wants to come in and show what happened the first time was a mistake and reverse that and train twice as hard and come really prepared and put up a fight. So you don't want to take things light … we gonna knock him out. I don't see boxing like that."
The Braithwaite/Azille bout will the undercard of the Chris Byrd defence of the International Boxing Federation (IBF) heavyweight title against Andrew Golota, John Ruiz defence of the World Boxing Associaiton (WBA) heavyweight title against Fres Oquendo and Jose Rivera defence of the WBA welterweight title against Ricardo Mayorga.