`Big Truck’ reverses out of Top 15 - `Vicious’ Vivian climbs
Guyana Chronicle
December 9, 2006
FOLLOWING over a year of inactivity former world cruiserweight champion Wayne `Big Truck’ Braithwaite has reversed out of the World Boxing Council’s top 15 rankings. It is the first time in over five years that the talented Guyanese has not been rated in the Top-15 by the WBC.
Braithwaite last entered the ring in September of last year. The 31-year-old Braithwaite won the WBC title in October 2002 after stopping Vincenzo Cantatore.
He made three successful defences before meeting Frenchman Jean Marc Mormeck in April 2005. Mormeck won the title fight by decision to hand the Guyanese his first defeat in 22 fights.
Five months later `Big Truck’ suffered his first puncture when Guillermo Jones won by a fourth round TKO in a world title eliminator.
The second Guyanese to win a world title following on the heels off Andrew `Sixhead’ Lewis, Braithwaite is rated seventh by the World Boxing Association.
Meanwhile, compatriot `Vicious’ Vivian Harris continues his climb back to the top and is currently rated number two in the junior welterweight division by the WBA. Like Braithwaite, Harris won the WBA title in October 2002 but lost it after three successful defences.
Harris was knocked out by previously unknown Carlos Maussa of Columbia in June last year but has bounced back to win his next two bouts. At present the 28-year-old Harris is rated number three by the WBC and five by the IBF.