Wayne Braithwaite


Wayne "Big Truck" Braithwaite is a Guyanese former professional boxer who competed from 1997 to 2012, and held the WBC cruiserweight title from 2002 to 2005.

Professional career

The highlight of his early amateur career was winning a gold medal at the 1994 Junior Pan American boxing championships held in Venezuela. He also won gold in the junior middleweight division at the Novices boxing championships then a gold medal at the Goodwill Games in Barbados before going professional.
Braithwaite turned professional in 1996, winning with a KO over Olympian John Douglas. For only his tenth fight, in 2000, he was pitted against Dale Brown, who had two years' more professional experience. Braithwaite stopped Brown in eight rounds, winning the WBC–NABF International cruiserweight titles. In 2002, Braithwaite received his first opportunity at a world championship when he faced Vincenzo Cantatore for the WBC cruiserweight title. Fighting in Cantatore's native Italy, Braithwaite was able to weather several onslaughts by his opponent, as well as questionable calls by the referee, en route to a tenth-round stoppage victory. This made Braithwaite only the second boxer from Guyana to win a world title. He successfully defended the title three times, reaching the rank of world's #1 cruiserweight by The Ring magazine during 2003–05.
Braithwaite's undefeated run and title reign came to an end in 2005 when he lost to Jean Marc Mormeck via unanimous decision. The bout was a unification for both the WBC and WBA cruiserweight titles. The early portion of the fight was dominated by Braithwaite, but Mormeck was able to regain lost ground and win the decision. In Braithwaite's next outing in the same year, he was stopped in four rounds by Guillermo Jones. In 2007, Braithwaite lost to Enzo Maccarinelli in a failed challenge for the WBO cruiserweight title, in which Maccarinelli won a dominant unanimous decision.
A momentary career resurgence for Braithwaite in 2008 saw him upset then-undefeated and future unified cruiserweight world champion Yoan Pablo Hernández, stopping him in three rounds and earning him a WBA and WBC regional title each. Braithwaite was unable to sustain this form in his next fight the following year, losing a unanimous decision to multiple cruiserweight champion Steve Cunningham. Amid a period of sparse activity, consisting of a lone win and two consecutive losses, Braithwaite has not fought since 2012.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
30Loss24–6Shawn CorbinUD12Oct 26, 2012Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, Georgetown, GuyanaFor vacant WBC–CABOFE cruiserweight title
29Loss24–5Shawn CoxKO1 Feb 25, 2012Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, Georgetown, GuyanaFor vacant WBC–CABOFE heavyweight title
28Win24–4Adam HarrisTKO1, 2:59Mar 6, 2010Mohegan Sun Arena, Montville, Connecticut, U.S.
27Loss23–4Steve CunninghamUD12Jul 11, 2009BankAtlantic Center, Sunrise, Florida, U.S.
26Win23–3Yoan Pablo HernándezTKO3, 1:52Mar 29, 2008Sparkassen-Arena, Kiel, GermanyWon WBA Fedelatin and WBC Latino cruiserweight titles
25Loss22–3Enzo MaccarinelliUD12Jul 21, 2007International Arena, Cardiff, WalesFor WBO cruiserweight title
24Win22–2Gustavo EnriquezTKO7, 2:46Feb 3, 2007Silver Spurs Arena, Kissimmee, Florida, U.S.
23Loss21–2Guillermo JonesTKO4, 2:26Sep 3, 2005Gund Arena, Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.For WBA Fedelatin and WBC Latino cruiserweight titles
22Loss21–1Jean-Marc MormeckUD12Apr 2, 2005DCU Center, Worcester, Massachusetts, U.S.Lost WBC cruiserweight title;
For WBA and vacant The Ring cruiserweight titles
21Win21–0Louis Azille12Apr 17, 2004Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.Retained WBC cruiserweight title
20Win20–0Luis Andres PinedaTKO1, 1:27Dec 13, 2003Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.Retained WBC cruiserweight title
19Win19–0Ravea SpringsTKO4, 2:40Feb 21, 2003Miccosukee Resort & Gaming, Miami, Florida, U.S.Retained WBC cruiserweight title
18Win18–0Vincenzo CantatoreTKO10, 2:06Oct 11, 2002Campione d'Italia, ItalyWon vacant WBC cruiserweight title
17Win17–0Louis AzilleKO3, 2:09Nov 17, 2001Mandalay Bay Events Center, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
16Win16–0Matthew CharlestonTKO2 May 31, 2001Zembo Shrine Building, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, U.S.
15Win15–0Wesley MartinTKO3, 1:58Feb 3, 2001Mandalay Bay Events Center, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
14Win14–0Michael AugineTKO2May 21, 2000Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago
13Win13–0Richard WoodhallTKO2May 3, 2000Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago
12Win12–0David McMillanKO4Apr 15, 2000Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago
11Win11–0Dale BrownTKO8, 1:44Feb 12, 2000Mohegan Sun Arena, Montville, Connecticut, U.S.Retained WBC International cruiserweight title;
Won NABF cruiserweight title
10Win10–0Ken SharpeTKO3Dec 27, 1999Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago
9Win9–0Clint RegisKO2Oct 3, 1999Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago
8Win8–0Tosca PetridisTKO2 Jul 29, 1999Town Hall, Melbourne, AustraliaWon vacant WBC International cruiserweight title
7Win7–0Adam Watt1, 2:37Mar 15, 1999Star City Casino, Sydney, AustraliaWon vacant
6Win6–0Wayne HarrisTKO7 Jul 25, 1998Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, Georgetown, GuyanaWon vacant Guyanese light heavyweight title
5Win5–0Ken SharpePTS8Oct 11, 1997Georgetown, Guyana
4Win4–0Ken SharpePTS8Jul 6, 1997Georgetown, Guyana
3Win3–0Rene JanvierTKO1May 10, 1997Fort-de-France, Martinique
2Win2–0John Lennox Lewis4Mar 16, 1997Georgetown, Guyana
1Win1–0John Douglas4 Feb 28, 1997Georgetown, Guyana