Paul-John Ramos
12.10 - Como, Italy - Two days ago, Roy Jones Jr. seemed to have a strong excuse for not fighting Dariusz Michalczewski. But along comes an emerging cruiserweight contender who proves that it is possible, however high the odds, for an American fighter to win in Europe.
The odds were stacked against Wayne Braithwaite in an obscene way at the Casino Di Campione on Friday evening, when he squared off against native Vincenzo Cantatore for the vacant WBC Cruiserweight Title. Braithwaite, who was coming off an eleven-month layoff mainly due to Juan Carlos Gomez's departure to heavyweight, was fighting not only in his opponent's home country, but in a tiny hall of 300 specially-invited people who ceaselessly chanted "Vin-cen-zo" at the tops of their lungs. As the bout progressed, it became clear that the Italian Cantatore was also receiving special referee treatment, perhaps with the WBC's approval. Luckily for Braithwaite and the much-smeared integrity of boxing, the judges' scorecards did not enter the situation as the 27-year-old U.S. invader scored a brave TKO win in round 10.
As often happens between men of varying size, speed made a difference for the smaller Braithwaite. Four of the opening five rounds were entirely Braithwaite's (18-0, 15 KOs), as he frustrated the stocky Cantatore (27-3, 26 KOs) with movement around the ring and textbook body shots. But Braithwaite's momentum was slowed by the naggings of referee Guadalupe Garcia (Mexico) and the strangleholds that Cantatore was allowed to put on Braithwaite without reproach. It was also disturbing to see Cantatore get personal attention from Garcia whenever he outstretched his arms and claimed fouls that didn't exist.
Braithwaite, Brooklyn, New York via Guyana, was effective enough in the early going to bloody Cantatore's face and score a knockdown in round five by slipping out of a corner and catching Cantatore, Rome, off balance with a left hook and two rights. The knockdown should have placed Braithwaite comfortably ahead, but there was no telling what the judges were writing down, although in the case of Arthur Mercante, Sr., we were almost guaranteed a scorecard that was accurate. Braithwaite did not help his own cause in round nine, when Cantatore surprised him with a right hook to the head and put him on wobbly legs. Braithwaite regained enough spunk later in the round to left-hook Cantatore's face and floor him for a second time, but the knockdown was incredibly waved off as a push by Garcia and a round that should have been scored 10-8 or 10-9 was scored 10-7, with a Braithwaite point deducted for holding.
Round ten saw Braithwaite pulling all stops, aware that a judges' decision would be hopeless in Cantatore's backyard. The results were something out of an Abbot and Costello movie. Braithwaite released two left hooks that sent Cantatore back to the ropes ; Cantatore, as he had done earlier in the fight, turned his back on Braithwaite, except this time Braithwaite threw another punch from the blind. Cantatore looked to Garcia in amazement, but did not receive help and was left defenseless as Braithwaite moved in to finish. A right and left hook landed as if to a punching bag, two blows that looked painful but comical at the same time. The punches were serious enough for the fight to be waved off, and Braithwaite tallied a victory that could have instead entered a long line of European boxing rip-offs.
The win by Braithwaite, who was ranked #1 by the WBC and #3 by the WBA before Friday, will probably be overlooked with the dawdlings of Cantatore and the circus-like atmosphere being present. The WBC should be condemned for allowing a title fight to be rigged, and the refereeing should also be condemned as inconsistent and downright crooked. But we must say again that the valor of Braithwaite should not be lost in this farce.
