Stabroek News reporter Steve Ninvalle is an attentive listener as boxing promoter Don King goes through a quick-fire interview in Manhattan yesterday.
The future of WBC cruiserweight champion Wayne Braithwaite looks bright under the stewardship of veteran promoter Don King. Or so the veteran promoter believes.
In an exclusive interview with Stabroek Sport at Madison Square Garden yesterday, three days before Braithwaite defends against Louis Azille, King said that there has been much progress since Braithwaite moved into his stables and promised much more if the champion remains loyal.
King noted that not all fighters are loyal and he singled out former WBA welterweight champion and Braithwaite's compatriot Andrew `Sixhead' Lewis as one who has let him down.
"I think that Wayne has got his hands full right now. I think that he is one of the greatest fighters out here. I love him. He is the big truck and driving down a super highway. He is knocking down everything in his way. I think that he is a tremendous guy. I am very excited about Wayne Braithwaite. I have great promise and great hopesfor him. He is a great fighter," King said in his trademark rapid-fire speech.
The spike-haired promoter reasoned that since Braithwaite moved to his Don King Productions company last year when he signed a promotional contract, there has been "tremendous" improvement inside and outside of the ring.
"His whole spirit has changed. His personality. He is smiling now. He is beginning to come into his own. They try to keep all the fighters from a black guy like me. So they tell all types of stories about me that will cause people to want to stay back. But as time has proven, I have been number one for over three decades. I don't think that anyone in sport or business can boast a record of that sort," King said.
In a recent interview Braithwaite declared that he has been very comfortable since linking with King and expressed total satisfaction with the money he now earns. The 28-year-old revealed that the purse for Saturday's fight was the best he has ever earned since his career started.
King declared optimism that other Guyanese fighters would follow Braithwaite into his corner but warned that only loyal ones should seek his alliance.
"I would hope so. The only one (Guyanese fighter) that I really felt bad about is `Sixhead' Lewis. I took him and built him for five years and he stabbed me in the back and ran over to the white man. It was so hurting and disappointing but it was a victory for me to see (Ricardo) Mayorga knock him out. Sixhead Lewis let me down like no other person let me down. Where is (Bob) Arum now? Where is this man that told him all those grand things. Where is Nelson Fernandez? They are sellouts. Back stabbers! I wish him (Lewis) well though," King lashed out.
"This is what we have a problem with. We don't have any common association. We must be able to have a community unity. We have to be able to stand up for one another. We have a problem let us fight it out between ourselves and come out as one. Unified! Not run off like thieves in the night especially from one who has fed when you were hungry, clothed you when you were cold and housed you when you were homeless.
"Inspite of all the insurmountable difficulties and impediments that have been put in my way a black man can rise to success if given an opportunity. They make it look like that we are not supposed to think or do anything. Those are the stereo type images that they put on us. It's up to us to take it and make them wrong. I had to kick the boardroom door down to get in because I had something to say."
In closing King disclosed a distinct possibility that Guyana may see Braithwaite defending his title on home soil.
"Certainly," King responded when posed with the question if the undefeated champion will fight in his homeland. "Guyana is a great country and has great people. They look like me. There is nothing like going home."