Recently crowned World Boxing Council cruiserweight champion Wayne `Big Truck’ Braithwaite has reconsidered his earlier decision to return home only after the crime spree abates and is now expected here within the next three weeks.
Braithwaite told Stabroek Sport that he intends to return to the land of his birth either at the end of this month or early in November.
His public relation consultant Seon Bristol, yesterday confirmed that the `Truck’ will be rolling this way soon.
“After reconsidering all things, Wayne knows that it is important to come to Guyana to be with his people. We are looking at either late October or early November,” Bristol disclosed.
In an article which appeared in Wednesday’s issue of this newspaper the champion had called to a end of the crime outrage in Guyana before he returns home.
Braithwaite, who now resides in Brooklyn, New York, was quoted as saying that he is very concerned with the spate of violent crime ravaging the country and will not come back unless the situation returns to normal.
“I wish this thing could end, it is very disturbing and I will not come home to endanger myself. I have a career to continue and I would not want to get myself harmed coming back now,” the champion said then.
Guyana has seen an upswing in violent crime ever since five prisoners escaped from the Camp Street penitentiary on February 23.
However, Bristol explained that the champion is longing to make the trip back home and will do so soon.
“We are scheduled to travel to Houston, Texas on Saturday to see Vivian Harris challenge for the WBA and IBA junior welterweight titles. When we return to New York, we’ll plan on when exactly we will be returning to Guyana. For sure it will be between the times that we have already stated,” Bristol stated.
According to Braithwaite, who hails from the East Coast Demerara village of Plaisance, he was trying to keep his return on the “down low” (a secret).
Braithwaite stopped Italian Vincenzo Cantatore in the 10th round last Friday to become only the second boxer fighting under the Golden Arrowhead to win a world title.
President Bharrat Jagdeo soon after declared that the government is prepared to honour the champion and give him tangible expression of appreciation.