‘Big Truck’ looking to roll over ‘The Sniper’
THE World Boxing Council (WBC) Cup Caribbean Championship punches off at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH) with five WBC/CABOFE title fights this Saturday from 20:00hrs, with former WBC cruiserweight champion Wayne ‘Big Truck’ Braithwaite meeting Barbados Shawn ‘The Sniper’ Cox in the main bout. Judging from the heated exchange of words that took place between these two pugilists in the office of Guyana Boxing Board of Control (GBBC), president Peter Abdool said yesterday this matchup can be termed the ‘Clash of the Titans’, since both boxers who arrived in the country yesterday, exuded confidence.
“This is a different league. I am not Kurt Bess, Anthony Augustine or Leon Gilkes. I have fought world champions and you have written a cheque that you cannot cash. You say you are ‘The Sniper’, well let’s hope you don’t miss or even run out of bullets,” stated the 36-year-old Braithwaite.
In response to his opponent’s words, the 37-year-old Cox, whose record reads 15-1, said “I feel great and at the same time privileged to be fighting Braithwaite. However, I want him to know that this is my time, his time has passed and come Saturday, everyone will see the true Shawn Cox and why they call me ‘The Sniper’.
“You are telling me I should make sure I don’t miss, well I am saying to you that I don’t miss. Ask Mr Abdool, I don’t miss and it does not matter who you are, I don’t miss and you need to remember that at all times.”
When asked what different his charge would be doing for this important fixture in his boxing career, Cox’s manager/trainer Samuel Layne said his boxer will not have to implement or do anything different, since he prepares for every fight as if it is a world title encounter.
“We have not seen Braithwaite in action live, but have the opportunity to see a lot of videos of him and from what I saw, we know what to expect and we are prepared for whatever he brings. As you are aware, Shawn is one of the most devastating punchers in the sport today, but we are prepared.
“I will say we are 100% prepared and at the same time don’t wish to say 101%, since we don’t wish to be over-confident, while at the same time we are confident, since we are prepared for 12 rounds, unless Shawn has other ideas.
“Shawn has been winning time and time again, even in small fights and as you are aware, small things grow to make a big difference and come Saturday night, you will see what I am talking about. We know what we are coming up against because Braithwaite is a former world champion and we have to give him that respect.”
Not to be left out, Braithwaite’s trainer Maurice ‘Bizzy’ Boyce said “Our belts – five in total, including a world title – talk for us. We have never had an easy fight before and we are always prepared for a war when we go into the ring. We love good competition.
“It’s like I mentioned at the press conference, you can hit Wayne, but if he is still in front of you, then you are in trouble. In fact I am in trouble as his cornerman since my work will be in jeopardy to contain him as there will be nothing more I can tell him.
“I have seen Cox fight on three occasions before and he looks like an amateur boxer to me. He had some soft opponents, in comparison to what we have faced before, including Vincenzo Cantatore whom we defeated for the world title, one of the biggest opponents Wayne has ever faced and we took him out.
“Having said that, we have no problem taking on and taking out Shawn Cox and what makes it better is that Guyanese people will have what they have always wanted – Wayne ‘Big Truck’ Braithwaite fighting and knocking out an opponent here in Guyana.”
Braithwaite expressed his delight at being home to fight in front of his home fans, having not done so for a long time and expressed gratitude to the GBBC for making this fight, while giving Cox kudos for taking the fight.
“I am here and well prepared for this fight. As I said before, this is not Bess, Gilkes or Austin, this is Wayne ‘Big Truck’ Braithwaite and I am prepared to fight for 12 rounds, but I guarantee you that this fight will not go the distance.
“I heard he said he will put me to sleep and I hope he backs up his words because I hate it when people talk and do not back  it up, it sickens me. I know he is prepared to fight and I am prepared to fight as well. I know it is not going to be an easy fight but at the end of it, the truck will roll over the sniper, as I am coming here to fight and not play.
“I have fought all over the world. I know how the canvas feels and I am not afraid to experience the feelings again, but I do know that he does not have what it takes to keep me down there and I hope when I get up and put him there, he can take it because that is where he belongs, below me.”
Another Barbadian Miguel ‘Hands of Stone’ Antoine will be going up against Barbados-based Guyanese Revlon Lake for the third time, with the WBC/CABOFFE super lightweight title up for grabs this time around.
In other fights on the card which punches off at 20:00hrs, Elton ‘Coolie Bully’ Dharry will defend his bantamweight title against Selwyn Lett and Edmond De Clou will face Kevin Placide for the middle weight crown.
Admission to the venue is $3 000 for ringside, $1 500 for stands and children under 12 years old $500. The GBBC wishes to inform the boxing public that there will be no live broadcast of the action on NCN Channel 11.