Wayne Braithwaite Interview: At The Crossroads
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
In an exclusive interview with Real Combat Media, former World Boxing Association World Cruiserweight champion Wayne Braithwaite, a Guyanese fighter now living with his family in Brooklyn, New York, the former WBC World Cruiserweight champion, now 37, explained his current status under contract with Don King and his future plans.
Since losing a WBC and WBA unification bout to Jean-Marc Mormeck in 2005, and then losing a WBA cruiserweight title eliminator to Guillermo Jones later in 2005, Braithwaite has won only three of his last seven bouts from 2007 to 2012. These losses included a 12 round loss to WBO World Cruiserweight champion Enzo Maccarinelli in Wales, and a failed attempt to move up to heavyweight.
His record also includes a third round stoppage win over current IBF World champion Yoan Pablo Hernandez in Germany in Germany, and a first round stoppage of 10-2 cruiserweight pretender Adam Harris at Mohegan Sun Casino in Connecticut in 2010, his last win.
Wayne Braithwaite kayos Hernandez in Sparkassen-Arena, Kiel, Germany, in 2010 Entire Brief Bout on YouTube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RIL0Ussbjpc
Watch fishy referee reach down help up Hernandez before counting in third round
Real Combat Media: “What’s next for Wayne Braithwaite?”
Wayne Braithwaite: “” I am training for two comeback fights later in 2013 in the United States at Gleason’s Gym in Brooklyn/ It doesn’t really matter where (the fights are held). I want (prefer) them here in the United States. Just tune ups, nobody in particular.”
Real Combat Media: “Wayne, you lost a 12 round decision to Sean Corbin for the vacant WBC CABOFE Caribbean Boxing Federation Cruiserweight title last October. What happened in that bout?”
Wayne Braithwaite: “I fought Corbin with pneumonia. I didn’t even know I had it till I got back here. I was sick for two weeks after the Corbin fight with pneumonia.”
Real Combat Media: “Who is your current promoter? Why are you not fighting?”
Wayne Braithwaite: “I have a promoter, Don King, but he’s not doing good for me, and he don’t want to do anything with me either. I asked him for a release, but he won’t release me. Don don’t listen to nobody. I want to get away from Don, and get back into shape.”
Real Combat Media: “Are you willing to fight for a belt now?”
Wayne Braithwaite: “I’d like a shot at any belt I can get..”
Real Combat Media: “Whatever happened to your attempts to fight former WBA champion O’Neil Bell?”
Wayne Braithwaite: “I tried to fight O’Neil Bell twice, and he never signed the contract.”
Real Combat Media: “Wayne, how are you biding your time at Gleason’s Gym?”
Wayne Braithwaite: “Just (with my) training, and working with somebody in the gym.”
Real Combat Media: “When does your contract with Don King expire?”
Wayne Braithwaite: “My contract is to the end of the year, it should be up by October 30, 2013. I don’t want to fight for Don (before then). It don’t make no sense. I’d love to fight, but not for Don. Don treats people like [expletive]. When I was a champion they called. Now nobody wants to talk to you. A bunches of CEOs are in his office (Don King Productions) having meetings. Nobody wants to talk to you. So you give up calling.”
Real Combat Media: “Wayne, what will it take for you to be ready to fight for a world title?”
Wayne Braithwaite: “To regain my championship form, I need a maximum of three fights. The first two will be eight rounders, and then (I’ll fight) one ten rounder, and we’re good.”
Real Combat Media: “So Wayne Braithwaite is at the crossroads of his boxing career?”
Wayne Braithwaite: “Yup, yup, yup. Next year I will back as a world champion. IBF. WBC. I want to be the world champion of any of them. I’d love to fight Yoan Pablo Hernandez again. Right now I’m now in fighting shape. I’ll be back in fighting shape by September or October.”
Real Combat Media: “Wayne, how have you survived financially while Don King has shelved you?”
Wayne Braithwaite: “I went to Russia and sparred Denis Lebedev for his fights with Roy Jones Jr., James Toney and Alexander Alekseev. I earned money. I was going to take a fight in Russia, but Don stopped it. Don doesn’t care about us (his fighters anymore), I’m not getting any younger. Don don’t realize I got a family to take care of.”
Real Combat Media: ” Havoc boxing, who fights its fighters right here at Resorts Casino Aqueduct Raceway, had its fighter, 20-0 cruiserweight Santander Silgado of Columbia, fight Denis Lebedev, who you sparred for in the past, for the WBA title. Lebedev knocked out Silgado in the fourth round. Later Guillermo Jones knocked out Lebedev to regain the WBA world title. What’s your response to all this?”
Wayne Braithwaite: “Santander Silgado? I saw him fight. He can’t fight! Yeah, I’ll fight him right now!”
Real Combat Media: “Wayne, when was the last time you spoke to Don King and attempted to iron out your differences?”
Wayne Braithwaite: “That’s a good question. I don’t know the last time I spoke to Don.”
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