By Carwyn Holland
Known for making the truest of predictions among the Caribbean’s top boxing pundits, leading trainer and internationally acclaimed expert Maurice ‘Bizzy’ Boyce is once again bold in his predictions of the outcome of a Wayne ‘Big Truck’ Braithwaite fight.
It’s been quite a while now since the long-bearded Boyce was in the news of any sort. But it seems as if Former World Champion Braithwaite, is just the right athlete to arouse his interest in speaking to the media. Stabroek Sports caught up with Boyce at his D’urban Street home and, as usual, he was not short for words when the topic of Braithwaite versus Cox came up.
“I have seen Cox fight and he is a pretty decent fighter. He can really pack a powerful punch and he can do it with both hands. But if he hits Wayne and “The Truck” is still standing in front of him, it will be a short night for the Bajan,” was Bizzy’s bold prediction.
“Cox can’t last if the fight is to go past four rounds because his style and motive is to attack and never to box. Wayne was that kind of fighter in his earlier pro days but changed drastically to a boxer/puncher when he reached New York and if he fights that way this month-end, victory will be his, no doubt. Another thing is if Cox hit Braithwaite and the Plaisance man is still on his feet, is trouble in the dance. Prepare for an early night I tell yuh,” he confidently stressed.
“Once Braithwaite gets hit there is no trainer nor cornerman who can tell him what to do next because he will go for the revenge and all you have to do in his corner is tell him `watch your mouth guard’ and he will do the rest. He is that sort of fighter and warrior who goes to finish his opponents when they hurt him, it’s that kind of temperament he has,” he added.
Boyce, who was first to predict Guyana will get world champions in Andrew “Six-Head” Lewis, “Vicious” Vivian Harris and Braithwaite while being interviewed on the once popular Television Sports Programme “Sports View” has never given a wrong prediction to this publication and if he is correct in his pre-fight assessment, Guyana will have several fighters in the upcoming WBC World Cup and Braithwaite will be competing in the heavyweight division.
“Guyana is pregnant with World champions and it’s just a matter of time before she gives birth to World Champions “six-Heads”, “Big Truck” and “Vicious”, he said back then and it came to pass.
Boyce holds the distinction of seven World championship fights under his belt with five involving Braithwaite in 2002, twice in 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2007, once with Anthony “The Pearl” Andrews in 1995 against Jorge Fernando Castro and once with the late Andrew Murray who fought “The Bazooka” Ike Quartey also in 1995.
The celebrated trainer has nevertheless taken a back seat in recent times and stressed that the lack of talent which motivates him is somewhat missing in Guyana. He is also not interested in being a part of what he calls local boxing politics and prefers to stay away from such scenarios.
“We have a few boxers trying here and there but nothing too special for me to brag about with the exception of young Simeon Hardy who I believe with the right management and discipline can be a World champion. And I stress he must be disciplined and have the right manager to see him to the top because politics of boxing overseas is not an easy thing. Look when Braithwaite had to fight Cantatore, they played us very dirty and were postponing the fight ever so often and waited until Wayne was injured in training which they heard of and called for the fight to happen. But knowing the warrior Wayne is, he made the sacrifice and we prevailed in the end. The food they gave us was terrible and I want you to know, when a promoter brings you into his country to fight it is not for you to win at all. It is for you to lose so politics in boxing is not an easy thing.” he explained.
“Bizzy” as he is popularly known, is the local representative for the former World champion Braithwaite and says the Guyanese is a special breed of fighter and Guyana needs to produce more like him.
“Not taking anything away from the Guyana Boxing Board because they are trying their best, but recycling fighters is not what we need. We need a new breed of boxers who can take us into the future. We also need those who are not doing much for themselves in the USA especially to return home and contribute to the rebuilding process and things will definitely make a turnaround,” Boyce added.
The statesman of the sport is also willing to work with any talent he sees with the discipline to make it to the top and hopes this month end’s fight will reinvigorate the populace and return the support to boxing.
