Talking Boxing with WAYNE BRAITHWAITE
"I am "the man" to beat in the division"
by
Coyote Duran
12/27 - It's no secret that the cruiserweight division is one of the shallowest weight classes in the fight game today. It almost seems weird that a weight class so young has already experienced what some may call its "halcyon days"; but it has. With the exception of 2003's monumental IBF title clash between James Toney and Vassiliy Jirov, the cruisers haven't seen finer days since a young Evander Holyfield ran roughshod through the division in its "toddler years."
Although not as electric a presence, WBC Cruiserweight titlist Wayne "Big Truck" Braithwaite (21-0 with 17 KOs) hopes to change this and soon bring his division out of its funk. Braithwaite won the WBC strap in late 2002 and has defended it 3 times since against Ravea Springs, Luis Pineda and Louis Azille. An October unification bout with WBA titlist Jean-Marc Mormeck (30-2 with 21 KOs) was scheduled but was ultimately scrapped due to a foot injury sustained by Mormeck. But all hope is not lost, cruiser fans. On February 19, 2005 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, NY, the two will mix it up on a Don King-promoted card to not only decide, once and for all, who is the king of the cruiserweights, but also the very first The Ring Magazine World Cruiserweight champion.
I spoke with Braithwaite recently and he shared his thoughts on being the best in the division, finally meeting Mormeck and what he thinks about the cruiserweight division gaining an extra 10 pounds.
WAYNE BRAITHWAITE - WBC CHAMPION
Coyote Duran: How's your training for Jean-Marc Mormeck coming along?
Wayne Braithwaite: Very well. It's going good.
Coyote Duran: After the first fight was scheduled, Jean-Marc had pulled out due to injury. Did that frustrate you much?
Wayne Braithwaite: Yeah, it frustrated me a little bit.
Coyote Duran: Was it a legitimate injury or do you think Mormeck was getting nervous?
Wayne Braithwaite: I don't know if it was legitimate or not. I think he was nervous.
Coyote Duran: Now, Mormeck seems to be a pretty strong guy and he's commented that he's going to deal with you by pressuring you and that you won't be able to handle him. How do you plan on dealing with his attack?
Wayne Braithwaite: I'm not worried. Mormeck don't know to move his head. He's got only one style. He's not a complete fighter. I've got a lot of lateral movement, though. He's never fought someone's who moves or has hand speed like me. Someone who's got different kinds of punches, too. I think it's gonna be very hard for him.
Coyote Duran: This fight with Mormeck will decide who is the very first Ring Magazine World Cruiserweight Champion. Is this an important belt for you or do you just see it as if it were any other sanctioning body belt?
Wayne Braithwaite: (Emphatically) No, it's very important for me because I've been wanting the Ring belt because it shows who's the real champion. So I'd be real proud to have that.
Coyote Duran: Assuming you defeat Mormeck, you will be seen as the man to beat at cruiser. Would you still want to unify the division against (IBF titlist) Kelvin Davis or would that not be necessary for you?
Wayne Braithwaite: I am "the man" to beat in the division. That fight (a fight with Davis) will just show that I'm on top. It'll prove that I'm "the man" but I'm "the man" already. I have no problem fighting Kelvin Davis. Kelvin Davis hasn't fought nobody. I have no problem fighting Kelvin. I have no problem fighting anybody!
Coyote Duran: Now that the cruiserweight division has gone up 10 pounds to 200, will you continue fighting at about 190?
Wayne Braithwaite: Yeah, I can still come in at right about 190. That's still a good weight for me.
Coyote Duran: Do you think raising the weight limit is a good thing?
Wayne Braithwaite: No, not really, because I think it's for the lazy fighters who can't make the 190 pound limit or don't try any more. I also think it's for those smaller heavyweights who can't handle the bigger men in their division.
Coyote Duran: If you could take on any opponent in either the cruiserweight or heavyweight divisions, who would that man be?
Wayne Braithwaite: I think I'd like to fight James Toney, maybe. Yeah, James Toney would be a great, tough fight.
Coyote Duran: Sounds damn good, man! Well, I'd like to thank you for your time, Wayne. I wish you much luck against Jean-Marc Mormeck and I hope you have a terrific holiday and new year!
Wayne Braithwaite: You too, man! Thank you.
Talking Boxing.com would like to thank Wayne "Big Truck" Braithwaite for sharing a little time from his busy preparations with us.
Coyote Duran can be reached at coyoteduran@talkingboxing.com
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