Colin Morgan, trainer of Wayne `Big Truck' Braithwaite has warned that Saturday's title defence against Luis `The Lion' Azille should not be put down as a walk in the park for the Guyanese. Morgan and co-trainer Maurice `Bizzy' Boyce are of the opinion that Azille will have a point to prove and may arrive with tricks up the sleeves.
Speaking with Stabroek Sport from Manhattan yesterday Morgan said that Braithwaite's third defence could turn out to be his toughest since Azille has already had a chance to "feel him out." The trainer described the challenger as a compact fighter who can deliver a punch and is cautioning his charge not to take the Latin American lightly.
"Azille is a very game fighter. He throws crisp punches. He is a compact fighter but does not have a lot of lateral movement," Morgan said. "I have told Wayne that Azille should not be taken lightly. It does not mean that because he defeated him once it can be done again with ease. Azille is a much hungrier fighter since Wayne now has a title. Wayne will have to be watchful."
Co-trainer Maurice `Bizzy' Boyce agreed with Morgan. "Azille is a much more prepared fighter now. He is getting a chance to be a world champion and will be putting his best foot forward. I was told that he is doing special training in Miami. He is a very aggressive fighter but I know that Wayne has the skills to take his heart away," Boyce said.
Braithwaite 20-0 with 17 KOs, defends his World Boxing Council (WBC) cruiserweight title against Azille on Saturday at Madison Square Garden in Manhattan. Braithwaite took care of Azille, ranked 14th by the WBC and 11th by the International Boxing Federation, inside three rounds when the two first met on November 17, 2001 in an WBC cruiserweight title eliminator. Since then, the undefeated Guyanese, who is on a 15 fight knockout streak dating back to October 1997, has won the WBC title and successfully defended it twice.
Morgan said that he has insisted that the 28-year-old Braitwaite watch video recordings of the 33-year-old Azille's fights. "Even the three rounds we had against Azille in the first fight were not easy.
The guy is strong and can punch. We have been concentrating on his tapes." Azille has 22 professional fights losing two and drawing two with 15 victories through the knock out route. He last fought in October 2003, losing a 12-round decision to Kelvin Davis.
Quizzed on Braithwaite's condition for the upcoming bout Morgan opined that it was good. "He is in good condition to go 12 rounds but I would have been more satisfied if he was in excellent or great condition. I think that mentally he (Braithwaite) believes that he will knockout this guy in one round."
Braithwaite returns to the gym this afternoon as training winds down for Saturday's encounter.
"He will be doing pad work and shadow boxing for the next couple of days,' `Bizzy' Boyce stated.
The Braithwaite/Azille contest is one of four fights on the card to be telivised live on Pay-Per-View. International Boxing Federation (IBF) heavyweight champion Chris Byrd defends against Andrew Golota in the headliner.
The main supporting bout will see World Boxing Association heavweight champion John Ruiz defending his title against Fres Oquendo.
Ricardo Mayorga will attempt to win back the WBA welterweight title from champion Jose Rivera.