Wayne `Big Truck’ Braithwaite has labeled his signing of a three-year promotional contract with legendary boxing promoter Don King as purely a positive career move.

The World Boxing Council cruiserweight champion, who turned 28 yesterday swore that he had no personal problems with his former promoter Vlad Wharton but that he was forced to a rational decision since his career under Wharton seem to have reached a “dead end.”

On August 1st the undefeated champion travelled to Florida to put ink on the contract which would see him under King’s eye until 2006.

“This is the first time in my career that I have made such a decision. I am very happy with it. No one made this decision for me. I made it for myself and I’m really happy with it,” Braithwaite said from his Brooklyn home yesterday.

“I have nothing against Vlad but my career was going to a dead end.

Twice he lost purse bids to the (Vincenzo) Cantatore camp. Things were not happening so I had to make a change. I know that Don King will make things happen.”

Braithwaite shied away form divulging details of the contract, but Stabroek Sport has learnt that it is worth US$1M. Braithwaite’s mother/manager Claire Small was quoted by internet website fightnews.com as stating that her son received a very generous signing bonus (incentive) from Don King.

“In this contract I have everything that I wanted. I am very happy. Most of the times people were making decisions for me. This time I made the decision. It was my birthday gift,” the champion said.

Under Wharton Braith-waite had to endure a Royal Run Around before he fought Cantatore who he stopped in round 10 in October last year to win the title.

He then successfully defended the title in February this year, before the WBC surprisingly named Cantatore as the mandatory challenger. The Italian again offered a series of excuses which forced a number of postponements to the rematch.

In frustration Braithwaite wrote an open letter (which was posted on Fightnews) to WBC president Jose Suliman asking for permission to seek other opponents. The WBC later mandated number one ranked O’Neil Bell.

Don Kings Productions Inc has promotional contracts with several fighters including undisputed world middleweight champion Bernard Hopkins, world welterweight champion Ricardo Mayorga, IBF heavyweight champion Chris Byrd and Howard Eastman.

Braithwaite (19-0;16 KOs), who turned 28 yesterday is down to fight Bell in his next fight. However, no date has been for the fight which should be Braithwaite’s second defence.