01.09.05 – WAYNE BRAITHWAITE (21-1, 17 KOs): “The last time I fought on SHOWTIME, I lost. So I appreciate the fact they are having me back and giving me another opportunity. Jones is on a roll, but he has never been in with a fighter like me. The Big Truck is ready to get back on track and rolling again. I cannot wait until Saturday. Anybody who watches is going to see something spectacular.”
GUILLERMO JONES (32-3-2, 25 KOs)
“This is going to be a great fight. I feel so much better and stronger at this weight than I did when I was fighting in the lower weights. I feel I am the most underrated boxer in the cruiserweight division, but this is my chance to change that. I am really thankful for getting this chance. I am coming to give my best and win. Then I want to fight one of the world champions.”
OWEN BECK (24-1, 18 KOs)
“I want to thank SHOWTIME, Don King and everyone involved for this fight. It is my chance to come back and do it all over again. Austin keeps saying he is going to do something, but no one has seen him do a thing yet.
“The Lion is back and ready to bring the pain. I have had an awesome camp. I hope the fans watching in person or on television are ready for some fireworks. I am not going to say I will win by knockout, but I will say that by the time this fight is over we will all know what Austin is made of.”
RAY AUSTIN (22-3-1, 15 KOs)
“If the fans do not know me now, they will know me after Saturday. We all have to pay our dues. Some have to pay them longer than others, but we all have to pay them. I was not just excited when I first heard that I was getting this great opportunity. I was overwhelmed. I am not concerned with anything Beck might do. I am here to come to do what I do. I am going to bring the thunder and the rain. When I hit Beck on the head, he is going to feel the pain.”
In a WBC/IBF/WBA 12-round eliminator, former WBC cruiserweight champion Wayne “Big Truck” Braithwaite will take on Guillermo Jones in the main event on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2005, at 9 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the west coast). The heavyweight co-feature will pit once-beaten WBC No. 6/World Boxing Association (WBA) No. 11/IBF No. 12 contender Owen “What the Heck” Beck against Cleveland’s Ray “The Rainman” Austin. Austin, the World Boxing Organization (WBO) No. 13 contender, is a late substitute for Sergei Liakhovich, who withdrew due to injury. Don King Productions will promote the explosive doubleheader from Gund Arena in Cleveland.