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Wayne Braithwaite/Leon Moore intensify preparations for Russian engagements
Michael Benjamin
Former World Boxing Council (WBC) Cruiserweight champion, Wayne ‘Big Truck’ Braithwaite is currently in Russia putting the finishing touches to his training for a fight against Ali Ismailov of Azerbaijan on a card dubbed ‘Not a Step Back,’ at the Khodynka Palace of Sports, Russia on November 4 next.
A report on Fightnews.com also said that Guyanese Leon ‘Hurry Up’ Moore will clash with WBC #3 ranked Russian Alexander ‘Knight’ Bakhtin for the vacant WBC Silver super bantamweight crown on the same card. The report on fightnews.com dubs the Moore bout the second most important one slated for that night despite the involvement of fighters the likes of three times, three division world champion James Toney and World Boxing Organization #2 ranked cruiserweight, Denis Labedev.
Rated at #3 by the WBC, Bakhtin (27-0, 11 KOs) collides with the lanky Guyanese power puncher (28-2, 22 KOs) for the vacant WBC Silver Super/bantamweight crown. Bakhtin is known outside of Russia for being the national record breaker in Japan.
In 2003-2006, he defended his National Japanese bantamweight title a record nine times before being stripped through legal proceedings. Bakhtin, 30, came back in style, registering four stoppages in a row; among his victims were Filipino veteran Jess Maca and former world title challenger Hidenobu Honda. He then defended his OPBF title twice before making a comeback move to his homeland. In his latest fight, Bakhtin scored a lopsided victory over Jose Angel Beranza, an infamous upset artist.
One of Guyana’s most decorated boxers, Moore will attempt to add the WBC Silver super bantamweight belt to his arsenal
Moore is also a quality boxer and lost only two times in his career, both under questionable circumstances against former flyweight king Irene Pacheco in Columbia and world-ranked Kyrgyz Timur Shailezov in Russia in 2007. Since then he has rattled up ten straight victories before migrating to the USA where he hooked up with promotional group Boxing 360. This is his first bout under the tutelage of that group.
Meanwhile, Braithwaite sports a record of 24-4 with 20 KOs while Ismailov has 18 fights, 7 losses and one draw. Thirteen of his victories came by the knockout route. Braithwaite also endured fluctuating fortunes after stopping Italian Vincenzo Cantatore in round ten for the World Boxing Council (WBC) Cruiserweight belt.
He went on to relinquish that accolade to Jean Marc Mormeck by knockout and since then has experienced fluctuating fortunes, losing several key battles that caused his supporters to question his current boxing status.
The former cruiserweight world champion bounced back into the spotlight with a first round stoppage over Adam Harris in a bout last March in Connecticut NY and in post fight comments had said then that after some time away from the ring he is ready to resume his career with the Harris fight being indicative of what was in store.
The former cruiserweight king has recently relinquished ties with world renowned promoter Don King and during a brief visit to Guyana recently, has vowed to retain the coveted accolade on his
way of being the only Guyanese fighter to do so.
He estimates that he would be able to perform this feat within one year and regards the Russian encounter as a very important one that should be decisive in his onward journey. During his brief visit to Guyana last week Braithwaite had engaged in light training sessions at the Andrew ‘Sixhead’ Lewis Gym, Albouystown and when quizzed on plans for his future in the sport Braithwaite intimated that he is definitely on the final leg of his fistic career. “I am looking at approximately three more years in the sport before calling it a day,” he had said.
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