Wayne `Big Truck' Braithwaite may have earned the distinction of being the first Guyanese to win a world title fight at the world famous Madison Square Garden, but his performance on Saturday has earned the wrath of trainer Colin Morgan who believes that a lackadaisical approach to training could have put the champion in hot water.

While the WBC cruiserweight champion offered the hurting of both hands in round three as his reason for not stopping challenger Louis Azille on Saturday, Morgan declared that Braithwaite was only 50 percent of himself and blamed it on poor preparation.

"I think that Wayne took this fight lightly. He though that he would have knocked the guy out so he didn't train seriously, at least to me. He didn't do roadwork. If he did roadwork five or six times in the last six weeks, that would be a lot," Morgan said.

"If he had trained the way I wanted him to train he would have been in good enough shape to finish the guy before he hurt his hands. "But he had to ease and press and ease and press because he was not in good enough shape," the trainer said.

At least three days before the fight Morgan told Stabroek Sport that his charge was in good shape but that he would have been satisfied if Braithwaite were in great or excellent shape. But in almost a total contrast Braithwaite claimed to have been in good shape for the fight.

"I wasn't really tired. I would say that I was a little bit fatigued since it was the first time that I went 12 rounds. At times I was having fun. I was not hurt at all by Azille. I was having fun that's why I was licking out my tongue like that. I hurt my hands in the third round but I sucked it up and did what I had to do," the champion said.

Braithwaite was in control for most of the fight, which saw a handful of Guyanese turning up at the venue to view.

In winning the unanimous decision over the tough Azille he became the first Guyanese to defend his world title belt at Madison Square Garden.

Failing to come good on a promise to start in a blaze, Braithwaite shifted gear in the second round and connected with frequency. He was on a rampage when a wild swing from the shorter Azille dislodged the champion's mouth guard form its usually secured and fixed place of abode.

Braithwaite rallied back and dropped Azille with a left hook in the third round but could not finish off the tough Dominican. Both fighters took time off in the fourth round while the undefeated Braithwaite went body hunting in the following round.

In the other rounds Braithwaite would start in a flurry, and box for the remainder as Azille took on the role of the hunter.

"It really does not bother me that I didn't get to knock him out. It's not everybody you can knockout. If plan A does not work then you have to go to plan B. After my hands got hurt I had to go to plan B and show my boxing skills. He was a little tougher than the first time. He was well prepared and I think that he watched a lot of tapes of me. However, I 'm still the champion," Braithwaite said.

Morgan noted that Saturday's fight should be a wake up call for the champion. "I hope that this fight would open his eyes and let him realise that not everyone you can go in, throw two big punches and knock them out. You knock people out when you are in good condition and when you train. I want him to know now that he has to keep training and get himself in the best shape," Morgan added.

"This is the only fight that I have seen Wayne not take serious. I don't know if it is because he beat the guy before or if there are other people trying to influence him or telling him different things."

Asked if he was worried at any point in the fight, Morgan replied in the negative. "I was pissed. The guy (Azille) was not doing anything. He was there for a beating.

All Wayne had to do was put a couple of punches together and the fight would have been over and he just couldn't do it because he was not in good condition," the trainer said.

After the fight both of the champion's fists were swollen making it difficult for him to shake hands with fans that clamored to get near.

I'm gonna take a little rest right now and check my hands. If my hands were not hurt I would have knocked him out.