By Rick Reeno
The fighter known as "Big Truck", swept through the cruiserweight division to win his first 21 fights, 17 of them by knockout. He picked up the WBC cruiserweight title in only his 18th professional fight. Wayne Braithwaite (21-1, 17KOs) was on top of the cruiserweight division, but his reign at the top was short lived.
This past April, Braithwaite met the WBA cruiserweight champion Jean Moremeck of France. Braithwaite fought a very uncharacteristic fight by allowing the much heavier Moremeck to pin him against the ropes in order to trade punches. The miscalculated fight plan proved to be disastrous for Braithwaite. He was knocked down for the first time in his career, saw his undefeated streak destroyed and was no longer the WBC cruiserweight champion.
On September 3, Braithwaite makes his grand return to the ring against Guillermo Jones (32-3-2, 25KOs) of Panama. Jones is a very durable comeback opponent who fought to a draw with WBO cruiserweight champion Johnny Nelson a few years ago.
BoxingScene sat down with Braithwaite to discuss his upcoming fight, his loss to Moremeck and his future.
BoxingScene.com: How long have you been training for the fight with Jones?
Wayne Braithwaite: I've been training since the last fight. Since the Moremeck fight. Nobody really saw me working. I wasn't working in the public, I was doing my own stuff. I think I'm in better shape and a better fighter since the Moremeck fight because I'm doing different stuff right now.
BoxingScene.com: Do you think that you need to make a big statement in the fight with Jones in order to let the public know that you are back?
Wayne Braithwaite: Yes. I need to make a statement in this fight. It could be my last shot at the spotlight.
BoxingScene.com: You were originally the third fight on the card and after two other fights were canceled, you became the main event.
Wayne Braithwaite: I know man, I'm real hungry. There were a few fights ahead of me and now I'm the main event fight. It's God at work.
BoxingScene.com: What do you think went wrong in your fight with Moremeck?
Wayne Braithwaite: My fight with Moremeck, everything went wrong in that fight. I was having a big problem with my trainer, there were big personal problems with him. It just happens.
BoxingScene.com: You came in extra light for that fight in order to box and Moremeck came in looking like a heavyweight. Do you think it was a mistake to come in weighing extra light?
Wayne Braithwaite: Yeah, the weight added to the difference in the fight. He came in real heavy. I was very stressed too.
BoxingScene.com: The one thing mistake you seemed to keep making was letting Moremeck trap you against the ropes.
Wayne Braithwaite: Yeah, I didn't fight my fight that night. I didn't fight the way I usually fight. I was fighting like I was trying to please the crowd. I was being told to be serious and to do this and do that. I have to relaxed in the ring and I wasn't relaxed in that fight. In this fight coming up I'm going to be myself.
BoxingScene.com: Was the loss more of a learning experience?
Wayne Braithwaite: It was a learning experience. I learned a lot from this loss. Everybody wins some and they lose some. I'm ready to go, I'm exciting and I can't wait to get back in the ring. I love to do what I love to do, which is to fight.
BoxingScene.com: Is it you strategy right now to get another fight with Moremeck or do you want to take another road?
Wayne Braithwaite: I would really like to have a rematch with Moremeck, but if I can't, I would like to fight the winner of (Antonio) Tarver and (Roy) Jones.
BoxingScene.com: If you can't get Tarver or Jones, would you consider someone along the lines of Glen Johnson?
Wayne Braithwaite: Of course, why not. If I can't get Moremeck, I'll go for a belt against whoever.
BoxingScene.com: The pickings are pretty slim in the cruiserweight division.
Wayne Braithwaite: Oh yeah, your telling me. This fight coming up right now is the ideal fight for me to get myself back and show everyone that I'm back. After this fight I'm going to call out Moremeck. I'm going to call him out. Right after this fight I'm calling him out.
BoxingScene.com: If Moremeck elects not to give you a rematch, would you consider fighting O'Neil Bell, a fighter that you personally don't like?
Wayne Braithwaite: (laughing) I'm not sure if I want to fight him because in his fight with Dale Brown, he had a gift (decision). He didn't win that belt, they gave him a gift. I don't think he wants to fight me, he wants an easier fight.
BoxingScene.com: Do you think the cruiserweight division is starting to pick up in terms of talent or do you think the division is still starving for new names?
Wayne Braithwaite: I think it's getting better. I think the fight between me and Moremeck brought some life into the division. I think there is talent in the division, but they need to match them up. people don't want to fight eachother.
BoxingScene.com: What would you like to say in closing?
Wayne Braithwaite: In my next fight you will see a different Wayne Braithwaite, a different Big Truck. I might have lost my first fight, but I'm not out. I'm going to fight my heart out. I want them to tune in on September 3rd and see the return of Big Truck.