`Big Truck’, The Lion clash will not be one-sided
… Says Bizzy Boyce
Guyana Chronicle
April 17, 2004
(From Isaiah Chappelle in New York in association with North American Airlines, Guyana Oil Company, Guyana Forestry Commission and Ed Beharry & Company Limited)
LONGSTANDING trainer and match-maker Maurice ‘Bizzy’ Boyce predicts that the title clash between World Boxing Council champion Wayne ‘Big Truck’ Braithwaite and challenger Louis ‘The Lion’ Azille will not be like the first encounter.
Boyce told Chronicle Sport: “He (Braithwaite) is defending his title so fans are in for a good show, because it would not be any one-sided affair like the last time. The guy is better prepared.”
The trainer pointed out that since the last encounter Azille had three fights, one he won by knockout and one he lost by a split decision to Kelvin Davis, last October. He stopped Carlos Bates in the first round in Atlantic City on June 1, 2002 and returned to Atlantic City that December and won an eight-round decision to Same Reese.
“He went 12 rounds with Davis under good pressure.”
But Boyce noted that Braithwaite is psychologically well “conditioned” and set to win, vowing that nobody will beat him.
“He is saying nobody is going to take it (the title) from him so early, at least not now. So he is good and ready to go,” added Boyce.
Chronicle Sport pointed out that it is said that Braithwaite brought “excitement” to the cruiserweight division.
“Wayne’s record is 20 fights, 17 knockouts. That’s a new thing. That’s what he brought to the cruiserweight division. And he is exciting. He gives the people what they need - added attractions; he dances and poses for the camera. Everything he gives them.”
Chronicle Sport asked the veteran trainer to compare Braithwaite with other Guyanese boxers before him.
“All of those boxers have their own category. We had some good boxers coming out of Guyana and all of them did well. I’m not going to take away anything from them. This is the Wayne and Vivian (Harris) era and they are trying to make the best of it. They’re attractive and they’re calling out people. That’s what the game is all about. You got to be exciting; you got to be attractive. You got to give people something to work with. You got to give Don King something to love you and that’s what he likes about ‘Big Truck’.”
And what’s Boyce’s opinion on Braithwaite’s switch to Don King?
“It’s bearing fruit. We already had two fights. We’re shaping up for another. After this we may fight in August because right now we’re in the cruiserweight tournament. We looking to be the undisputed (champion) and after that we’ll take a shot at the heavyweight division if we could make the weight.”
Boyce however said the camp has not looked at a possible opponent in the heavyweight division.
At Wednesday’s press conference at Madison Square Garden Don King declared: “Wayne is the best kept secret in boxing. Boxing fans are looking for people who are power punchers and ready to give you a knockout. And Wayne has given both of those. So Wayne is coming, watch out! In case you didn’t hear it, Wayne knocks out people with either hand and he boxes. That’s the quality he has.”
Braithwaite completed his training for the clash with Azille, yesterday, at the Crunch gym in Manhattan, New York City.
Trainer Colin Morgan switched gym for more than one reason, but basically it was because of Braithwaite’s elevation to world champion.
“I think when you become the champion of the world, you need some privacy. Gleason’s is a nice gym for when you’re up and coming. All the kids around, so you get a lot of sparring. When you become champ, you don’t want to be in the gym just sparring. You go where you can train privately and when it’s time to spar, you pay a couple of sparring partners.”
Morgan pointed out that at Gleason’s there are three rings, used by all boxers, with no priority given to anybody.
“If there are kids in the ring, girls in the ring, and some other people using the ring, you have to wait until they have finished to get in. They don’t care if you’re the champ or not. Here (at Crunch) Wayne is king. It’s like it’s Wayne’s gym. He could train whenever he wants and we don’t have to wait for anything.”
And the results to date?
“He knocked out his opponent in the first round in the last fight. That’s a good impact. We trained here for the last fight.”