Big Truck forced to go distance to retain title
(From Isaiah Chappelle in New York in association with North American Airlines, Guyana Oil Company, Guyana Forestry Commission and Ed Beharry & Company Limited).
Guyana Chronicle
April 19, 2004
NURSING injury in both fists, Wayne “Big Truck” Braithwaite was forced to wait on the judges’ decision to retain the World Boxing Council (WBC) Cruiserweight belt at the Madison Square Garden, Saturday night.
“I hurt both my hands, but I really hurt my right hand in the third round when I hit him on the head. I thought I had a good performance, but it would have been better if I didn’t hurt my hands,” Braithwaite said immediately after successfully defending the title for a third time, a record feat for a Guyanese world champion.
In their first encounter, Braithwaite had put away challenger Louis “The Lion” Azille of Dominica in four, but the Lion fought doggedly on, refusing to be knocked out and even won two rounds on one judge’s scorecard.
Judge Billy Costello scored it 120-107, Arthur Mercante Sr 118-107 and Julie Lederman 119-108.
Azille said: “He fought a good fight. I did good in the middle rounds, but I got tired towards the end. A few rounds I felt like I hurt him, but I just couldn’t follow up.”
Braithwaite started pawing his left fist in Azille’s face, then kept him out with jabs, adding solid left-right combinations and trying some uppercuts. But Azille landed some telling overhand rights and Lederman actually awarded that round to the Dominican.
Round two Braithwaite peppered Azille’s head at will, but Azille struck back with vicious over and rights and a wicked left hook, twice knocking out Braithwaite’s mouthpiece.
Then in round three, Braithwaite landed a solid left uppercut on Azille’s jaw and he hit the canvas. The champ continued to pound Azille with jabs and hooks, yet the challenger stood and even connected a solid left hook on the gong.
Braithwaite was noticeably less active in the next round, initially pawing with his left hand. He did score with jabs and landed some solid left and rights to head.
The champ worked on Azille’s body in the opening moments of the fifth round, then kept him out with jabs. But he began showboating instead of going in, although he offered some combinations to head. Both boxers appeared tired.
Azille stalked Braithwaite in round six, but he offered no shots and Braithwaite failed to offer his trademark power shots and the crowd began booing the performance.
Both boxers appeared more tired in the seventh, with Braithwaite being the more active of the two, landing a few combination to head, and the crowd continued booing the inactivity.
Braithwaite picked up action again in the eighth, hitting with solid left and right, and some uppercuts, but was unable to put Azille away who was open for shots.
The following round, Braithwaite hit some solid left and right shots, but again was unable to drop Azille who replied with some vicious left hooks and overhand rights to head. Braithwaite showed him his tongue in mockery, but judge Mercante awarded the round to Azille.
Braithwaite was active in round ten, dancing and hitting some good combinations, but Azille still connected two solid right hooks to head. Azille was more active in the next round, although Braithwaite got in some shots and Mercante again gave Azille the round, while Chronicle Sport had it as a draw.
All attention left the ring when Mike Tyson entered the arena, the crowd already signing off the encounter as a bore.
The champ closed the bout with jabs and combination, and Azille had a leading left, to stitched in right hooks.