Sparring has been put off for at least six weeks for Wayne `Big Truck' Braithwaite who injured both of his hands during his third defence of the WBC cruiserweight title on April 17.
The champion saw a bone specialist the day after his successful defence against Louis Azille and was notified that the injury is a 'boxer's knuckle', something his manager claimed many fighters suffer from.
Braithwaite's mother and manager Claire Small revealed that the injury will keep the WBC champion out of sparring for six months but assured that it is not a serious one.
"It is not serious at all. I think it came about because his hands were not wrapped properly. Many fighters suffer from it. Oscar De La Hoya, Roy Jones, `Sugar' Shane Mosley have all had it at one time or another," Small said.
Braithwaite floored Azille in the third round of the bout held at Madison Square Garden but could not finish off his opponent. After the fight both of the champion's fists were severely swollen and Braithwaite was visibly in pain.
He later stated that he had injured his hands in the third round which allowed Azille to go the distance.
Small said that after visiting the specialist both of Braithwaite's hands were put in a cast.
The right cast was removed after a week while the left is occasionally removed.
"He still has a little swelling on the left hand and there is some pain around one of the knuckles," Small added. "He can train at the moment but we were advised against sparring for six weeks."
The undefeated champion was scheduled to revisit the bone specialist yesterday afternoon for an evaluation.
Braithwaite, 28, is the only Guyanese to have successfully defended a world title on three consecutive occasions.
He will next face the winner of the fight between WBA cruiserweight champion Jean Mark Mormeck and Virgil Hill.