WELTERWEIGHT Winfield Braithwaite came from a family of boxers. He was a first cousin to Patrick and Reggie Ford two household names in local boxing. Braithwaite became the darling of local boxing when he won a gold medal at the 1978 Commonwealth Games held in Edmonton, Canada.

He defeated James Douglas of Scotland in the light welterweight final to claim the only gold medal that Guyana has won at the Games. On his return home, Braithwaite was feted and had a motorcade through the streets of Georgetown.
On February 9, 1982 Braithwaite defeated American Jimmy `Shot Gun’ Muse. The six-round fight was staged at the Tropicana Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA and the Guyanese was ahead on points when it ended.
Braithwaite tackled Derek `Teacher’ McKenzie in September 1979 but the fight ended in a draw. He now resides in the USA.