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LAS VEGAS, NV (November 11, 2004) – Will incumbent WINKY WRIGHT, the first undisputed super welterweight champion in 29 years remain in office? Can über trainer Joe Goossen return two-time Oscar De la Hoya conqueror |
SUGAR SHANE MOSLEY, a world champion in three different weight divisions, back to glory? One thing is for sure, the winner of this rematch campaign will be looking at 2005 mega fights against the likes of Felix Trinidad and Bernard Hopkins. Promoted by Gary Shaw Productions, LLC, the super welterweight debate gets settled, Saturday, November 20 at Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino.
“Winky Wright W 12 Shane Mosley – While I don’t buy the fact that the only top fighter Shane Mosley will ever beat is Oscar de la Hoya, I’m still not convinced that Winky Wright will be that top fighter Sugar Shane beats. Wright clearly won their first fight showing boxing fans across the world what many insiders already knew, that he was one of the best in the game. He established himself as one of the top pound-for-pound fighters and made a name for himself. Mosley since then has a new trainer, and I believe a new demeanor. A fighter once regarded as the very best, now he finds himself trying to regain the respect of the boxing world, and although I believe Wright will win, I think the fight in itself will be competitive and Mosley will still have big fights lined up for him in the future.” Armando Alvarez, MaxBoxing.com
“Sugar Shane wasn’t able to make the adjustments in the Vernon Forrest rematch. Can he do it against Winky Wright? That’s the question. He enlisted the services of Joe Goossen for the Wright rematch. It might be enough. Mosley will figure out an answer for Wright’s jab and pull out a razor-thin decision.” Carlos Arias, Orange County Register
“I like Winky in this one. I think that this fight has “repeat’ all over it. Winky is the bigger man and is technically very sound. His southpaw style, combined with his superior fight plan in controlling the distance of the fight, completely confused and out-pointed Shane in fight No. 1. I think the same happens here for the speed-punching Mosley, he will need to sit down on his punches and be a lot more accurate this time around if he is to get any real respect from Wright. This will be too much of a turn around even for the recent magical skills of Joe Goossen. Winky Wright clear points winner.”
Kevin Barry, Professional Trainer
“I am picking a draw. I think Mosley will fight better, it will be closer than the first and will end up a draw.” Al Bernstein, KBAD-AM (ESPN Radio Las Vegas)
“For Mosley, this is the Vernon Forrest situation all over again. Mosley couldn’t solve the Forrest equation over 24 rounds, and he’ll be equally frazzled after 24 rounds with Winky Wright. Like Forrest, Winky is tall, rangy, and smart. The only difference is that he’s a lefty. Once again, Winky will keep Mosley on the end of his jab and slam home hard lefts when Shane tries to get inside. This one takes on the same script as their first fight, an easy decision win for Winky, and there’s not a thing Mosley can do about it.”
Ted Bodenrader, “The Ring’
“Winky by EASY decision.” Ron Borges, Boston Globe
“No doubt about it. Winky Wright has Shane’s number and will repeat what he did in the first fight and maybe even better.” Oscar Borras, 20 de Mayo
“As a long-time admirer, I backed Winky Wright first time around and see no reason to change my mind for this rematch despite the Midas touch of Joe Goossen. Wright has been avoided like the Ebola Virus during his pro career and his reverses against Harry Simon and Fernando Vargas were contentious and unjustified. I feel he will score a clear points win here vs. a revitalized Mosley and hopefully earn the superfight his immense and under-appreciated talent has always deserved” Mark G. Butcher, Secondsout.com
“Mosley gets frustrated around round 8 and starts taking chances, and Wright puts him away in the 10th with a stunning knockout.” John Cotey, St. Petersburg Times
“Wright over Mosley by a 12-round decision.” Paul Cicala, KTNV-TV (ABC Las Vegas)
“I expect Sugar Shane to be very well prepped for this battle. A change in trainers frequently revitalizes talented stars, and Mosley clearly qualifies on that count. If Winky comes in at less than his best, the title changes hands. But Wright has shown himself to be a consummate pro, making that scenario unlikely. A tense duel that remains in doubt
til the buzzer. Wright by decision, but should it go Mosley’s way, it’s not a shock.”
Dave “The Thermometer” Cokin, Jack Welsh Biographer
“I like Wright by a smaller margin, much like the second Vernon Forrest fight Mosley will be better but it will not be enough against the larger, stronger fighter.”
Tim Dahlberg, Associated Press
Wright by unanimous decision. He’s too big and mechanically sound for Mosley. Shane does better than last time, but not by much.” Bill Dettloff, “The Ring’
“Winky Wright TKO 10. He did it once, why not again? He was and still should be the undisputed champion, and on November 20, he will reaffirm that.”
George Diaz, Orlando Sentinel
I want to believe that Joe Goossen can create the same magic for Shane that he has for Chico Corrales this year, and so many others in the past. While I do feel that we will in fact see a new and improved Mosley on Nov. 20, I still can’t get past my 18-month feeling that Shane is simply a fish out of water at 154 lb. Conversely, Winky is a career 154 pounder. Nothing was ever more obvious than what transpired on March 13. And while many figure that Winky will come in overconfident for the rematch, I believe that Dan Birmingham – who has been with Wink his entire boxing lifetime – will have his charge BETTER prepared than he did eight months ago. Shane will make a fight of it early on, but Wink will once again prove to be too slick, too strong, too much and two for two when all is said and done.” Jake Donavan, Fightworld.us
“Winky Wright will win a unanimous decision. Winky’s style is too much for Shane, even with a new trainer, Winky is going to win the fight. I think Winky has Shane’s number, just like Forrest did. Additionally, Winky’s jab is going to be the biggest difference of the fight, which will be all over Mosley’s face for 12 rounds.”
Jose Duarte, PuroBoxeo.com
“Shane Mosley is almost Evander Holyfield delusional here. Why is he insisting on this rematch? He lost almost every minute of every round against Winky and was knocked down in the 12th (the ref must have been checking out some girls in the front row or something to miss that). He won’t do much better this time. I take the champ by late stoppage or a decision.” Ant Evans, SecondsOut.com
Winky again, just like Shane again over Oscar, and Vernon again over Shane, and Mayorga again over Vernon. Immediate rematches aren’t always a good idea.”
Steve Farhood, Showtime
“Two years ago, Shane Mosley was high on my pound-for-pound list. But Vernon Forrest and Winky Wright happened along, and now Sugar Shane is trying to recapture the magic with a new trainer. My suspicion is that he’s gone a weight class too far, and didn’t bring
his punch and hand speed to the dance at 154 pounds. Winky gets another unanimous decision.” Bernard Fernandez, Daily News (Philadelphia)
“Joe Goossen can’t work miracles. Unless Winky forgot what got him there, he wins by decision. Again.” Rick Folstad, TheSweetScience.com
“Winky Wright should complete the two-step. Sugar Shane Mosley’s confidence took a hit in the first one. He also looks as if he has lost half a step. Wright by decision.”
Norm Frauenheim, The Arizona Republic
“WRIGHT (PTS) – Mosley has too big a gap to bridge to turn around the outcome of the first fight even with a new voice in his corner. Wright’s where he always wanted to be as a world champion and it’ll take more than ‘Sugar’ to ruin his appetite for it.”
Scott Fyfe, Sunday Post (Scotland)
“Winky Wright will win again. After years of fighting in obscurity Wright remains hungry at the top. He has the size and power to make it a long night for the Sugarman who has been looking for answers in his last number of fights. A new trainer should help Shane, however, the stability of working with his old trainer will help Winky more.”
Ron “G-man” Gerrard, American Urban Radio Networks
“Nothing like a good East Coast-West Coast scrap. Being a West Coaster, I’d like to believe desperate Mosley and new trainer Joe Goossen will find the magic formula. But last time Winky was so dominant in every category I just don’t see a Hollywood ending. Around the middle rounds tough Shane’s fire will fade – as it did in his second outing aganst Forrest. Wright by decision.” Ivan Goldman, The Ring / KO Magazines
“I believe Winky is going to win again by decision. Mosley does not look like the same fighter who beat Oscar De la Hoya twice, and Winky is the stronger fighter, as he showed in their last fight.” Ramiro González, La Opinión
“Even though Mosley has a great new trainer in Joe Goossen the old cliche of “Styles make Fights” will be very true in this case with the same results. Winky by late KO or unanimous decision.” Butch Gottlieb, BoxinginLasVegas.com
“Wright by unanimous decision. Mosley has never readjusted in the past, why would he start now?” Tim Graham, Buffalo News
“While Mosley is to be commended for his courage and the excitement he brings to any fight, this rematch will be decided by the advantages Wright holds in size, strength, reach and jabbing ability. Wright by unanimous decision.” Jeff Haney, Las Vegas Sun
“Jeff Mayweather once told me that when a fighter dominates another fighter in a bout, should they ever re-match, the second time around will only be worse. However, after much consideration and observation, I have come to agree with Jeff. On that note, I pick Winky to do it again, convincingly and unequivocally. It will be a Wright unanimous decision.” Elisa Harrison, BraggingRightsCorner.com
“I expect to see the same result as before – Winky Wright getting a points decision. I believe Winky has got Mosley’s “number”.” Colin Hart, The Sun London
“Winky will do it again. I was very impressed with his gameplan last time and I don’t see any reason he won’t repeat. I think he is stronger than Shane and just as slick.”
Jay Heater, Contra Costa Times
“Mosley will KO Wright within 10 Rounds. The change to a motivating and passionate trainer will bring out the best in Mosley. Mosley’s quickness and power will be a surprise and catch Wright.” JD Hernandez, World Wide Boxing
“Mosley gets kudos for refusing to fight tuneups before rematches. But I think Winky still has Shane’s number, especially since Shane has lost a little of his speed. Wright by decision.” Michael Hirsley, Chicago Tribune
“I’ve got Wright over Mosley, even easier. Has his number. Might have lots of fighters’ numbers.” Richard Hoffer, Sports Illustrated
“Part of determining the winner in any rematch is about identifying who has to make the most adjustments in order to win. After looking back on their first fight, it’s obvious Mosley has the most corrections and adjustments to make. The only way Mosley can reverse his performance is to magically find more energy, power, speed and boxing skills.
Wright just has to fight the same fight. If Mosley doesn’t tighten up his defense, he’s in danger of being caught as he struggles to land on the defensive, counterpunching Wright. But the bet here is a repeat of the first fight. Winky by 12-round unanimous decision.”
MikeHouser, Nevada Appeal
“Last time I think Mosley was a little “flat” while Winky fought a tremendous
all-around fight. This time I think Mosley will be sharper but I still don’t
think it will be enough. Winky can fight on offense or defense, he has that
tight guard, high punch-output and an excellent jab from the southpaw style. Shane has great talent and speed and he can punch but my feeling is that, in the overall flow of the fight, Winky will be able to match whatever Shane does and come back with something a little better to pull out a decision.” Graham Houston, Boxing Monthly
“Wright by unanimous decision. Joe Goossen’s great at making adjustments and should help make Mosley more competitive this time. But based on the one-sided nature of their first fight and that there’s no reason to think Wright won’t be at least as sharp in the rematch, this just might be one of those classic examples of styles making fights.”
Keith Idec, Herald News
“Winky by decision. In rematches, the guy who won the first time usually wins again by a bigger margin. Mosley knows the importance of this fight, but it’s also a big one for Wright and I think he’ll want to make a statement.” Kevin Iole, Las Vegas Review-Journal
“Wright again. I covered the first fight. Winky has the style to do it again.” Jim Jenkins, Sacramento Bee
“Wright by decision in a closer fight than the first. Mosley will be better with a new trainer, but not enough to dethrone the champ.” Michael Katz, Detroit News
Wright UD12 Mosley. At 154, Winky Wright is just too fundamentally strong, possessing fluid defensive to offensive transitional skills, while being a punishing boxer-puncher. Mosley’s best boxing was predicated on raw speed and solid combination punching; however, in 2004 those advantages have been mitigated. Wright knows if he’s ever to cap off his career with some mega-paydays, he’s got to make a statement against Mosley. And I, for one, trust he will. Wright could get the stoppage win late… a champion’s heart gets Mosley through the 12 rounds in a losing cause.
Patrick Kehoe, SecondsOut.Com
“Wright by decision. I think Winky is the natural 154-pounder and more sound.
I think Shane improves on his first performance but it wont be enough.” Steve Kim, MaxBoxing.Com
“Wright again.” George Kimball, Boston Herald
“My money is on Winky. I think he stops Mosley in the ninth round.” Jeff Lacy, undefeated IBF Super Middleweight Champion
“Wright, TKO 9.” Franz Lidz, Sports Illustrated
“After the paper chase, following Oscar De La Hoya from division to division, Sugar Shane finds himself in a division where he cannot succeed, jr. middleweight. Joe Goossen is a fine trainer, but what tricks can he teach his pupil? Expect Winky Wright to work off his long jab and win by decision, decisively taking nine of the twelve rounds.”
Ricardo Lois, Boxeomundial.com
“Wright by decision. Mosley looks as if he has lost his speed as he has moved up, and he can’t overpower Wright.” Thom Loverro, The Times
“My vote was for George Bush and I’ll go with Winky.” Chris Maathuis, KLAS-TV (Las Vegas CBS)
“I think Sugar Shane Mosley will prevail this time. Last time Winky Wright fought the perfect way to beat Sugar Shane Mosley, but, based upon the experience and ring savvy of Mosley, I believe it will make a difference this time. Shane Mosley will win by split decision.” Efrain Martinez, KINC-TV (Las Vegas Univision)
“Winky is hot and Sugar is not. This is the storyline of the champion fighting with even more exuberance since taking the title. Mosley has lost most if not all of the luster from his first win against De La Hoya. A competitor to be sure, but it goes to Wright on a decision.” Joe Maxse, Cleveland Plain-Dealer
“This a rare 12-round fight that you can watch in just a smidge more than 36 minutes. Just get the videotape of the first fight and fast-forward through the round breaks. Wright by decision.” David Mayo, Grand Rapids Press
“Winky wins again!” Dave McCann, KLAS-TV (Las Vegas-CBS)
“Sugar Shane will win the rematch through points. Shane learns the lesson from his defeat and he is hungrier than Winky.” Gunnar Meinhardt, German Press Agency
“I think we’ll see a “new” Shane Mosely defeat Winky by decision. I think the first fight might have been just another big fight for Shane, but for Winky it was THE fight of his LIFE. This time, Shane will get redemption!” Larry Michael, WestwoodOne Radio /Ballroom Boxing
“It’s hard to imagine this fight being much different from the first encounter. Wright W 12.” Bob Mladinich, Boxing Digest / The Fist
“Wright, once again, by lopsided decision. Mosley will not be able to land many clean punches against Wright, one of the best defensive fighters in the game.”
Robert Morales, Los Angeles Daily News
“Shane has a much greater margin for improvement than Winky. There are more things he can do differently, and under Joe Goossen he will surely show some technical improvement. There is nothing especially unpredictable in what Winky does, but he does it exceptionally well. Shane is not a natural 154 lb fighter, and despite performing much better this time round, he will be unable to get past the bigger, stronger man, who will wear him down over the stretch. Winky by UD.” Kieran Mulvaney, BoxinginLasVegas.com
“This looks like a rerun of their first fight, and Winky will win an easy decision. The big question is whether Winky will look good enough to get the public charged up about Hopkins vs. Wright.” Steve Nelson, Kuffler News Service
“Winky Wright by unanimous decision. I don’t think this bout holds much suspense, given what happened the first time around. Wright completely confounded Mosley with his southpaw stance and fundamental skills, and in my opinion there is little Shane can do to overcome that, especially at jr. middleweight.” Sean Newman, Ringsidereport.com
“Mosley by decision.” Jorge Ortiz, San Francisco Chronicle
“Winky in a 12th-round Kayo.” Tony Paige, WFAN Radio New York
“Winky Wright gives another sweet masterclass of boxing and outpoints ‘Sugar’ Shane taking all three judges scorecards.” Graham Pearman, Boxing-central.com
“I expect this fight to go more or less like the first one: Shane can improve his speed and defense, at least during a few rounds, but not his size, and the fact that he’s already a worn fighter. Wright by decision, although closer than the first time.” Jorge Perez, El Nuevo DÃa
“Winky – a carbon copy of the first bout. Unanimous decision.” Santos Perez, Miami Herald
“Wright by decision. He’s still going to be tough to hit, difficult to figure out, and have those good short counters that made the difference last time.” Jason Probst, MaxBoxing.com
“Mosley is not Robinson or Leonard, so if he thinks his rematch with Winky will be any sweeter than their last fight, he better cringe when Winky asks how many lumps. This one will be over before the coffee cools.” Pat Putnam, Sports Illustrated Emeritus
“Wright W 12. It pains me to say it, but I don’t think Mosley has any great performances left in him. And even if he did, Wright’s style would be a nightmare for him. This is a no-brainer.” Eric Raskin, “The Ring’
“Under the tutelage of new trainer, Joe Goossen, I see “Sugar” Shane Mosley not only avenging his loss against Winky Wright, but also rebuilding his career.” John Raygoza, 15rounds.com
“If Winky can endure four hurricanes within six weeks, he surely can survive his rematch with Sugar Shane Mosley. Winky dominated the first fight and there is nothing Shane can do a second time. Winky’s defense is way too good and he actually showed more hand speed than Shane. Shane was so upset during his first loss, he was visibly shaken. Expect much of the same and when Shane realizes he’s losing and goes for the KO. Expect Winky to catch him with a counterpunch that knocks out Shane. Winky by KO 8.”
Anwar Richardson, The Tampa Tribune
“Winky won’t even need to go the distance, I think it will be a repeat of the last one. I just think Sugar has lost his sweetness in the ring.” Sharon Robb, Ft. Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
“It’s all Wright!” Mitch Roberts, KVBC-TV (NBC Las Vegas)
“Wright by decision.” Michael Rosenthal, San Diego Union-Tribune
“Winky Wright wins a hard-fought, unanimous decision, but only because he will out-work Mosley round-by-round. Final score: 115-111, Winky Wright.” Lem Satterfield, The Baltimore Sun
“The first bout was so clear-cut that I can’t see it any different.
In fact, maybe more pronounced. Sugar Shane certainly is a fine, exciting fighter, but the old “styles makes fights’ cliche fits here, and Winky is absolutely at the peak of his game. Wright by TKO 8.” John Scheinman, The Washington Post / Ballroom Boxing
“It’s do or die career-wise for Mosley. I think he will do.” Ed Schuyler, Associated Press Emeritus
“I’ll take Wright to stop Mosley in the late rounds. He will put a lot of pressure on Shane, and eventually the body shots will take a toll on the speedy Mosley.” Colonel Bob Sheridan, CMXsports Commentator
“For some reason I believe Shane may benefit from Joe Goossen’s voice in his corner.
I know nothing has changed physically since the last fight. Winky is still the taller man, but I like Shane in a decision. Mosley W 12.” Tim Smith, Daily News (New York)
“Winky wins by decision.” Paul Spadafora, former IBF lightweight champion
“Sugar is sweet, but Wright is right. Winky by decision.” William Stickney, Houston Chronicle
“I like Shane Mosley a lot, and he had a fantastic career. But I do not see him beating Winky Wright and I do not see Joe Goossen making that much of a difference. Winky is too strong, and too skilled for Shane. It will be much like the first fight, Winky Wright will dominate and he will win a lopsided decision.” Julius Stecker, TalkingBoxing.com
“Mosley by decision” Rick Strasser, KVBC-TV (NBC Las Vegas)
“Mosley by split decision. Shane and Joe Goossen will make the adjustments, which will make the rematch a much closer fight than the first. Wright may come in just a little over-confident, which would be a natural reaction, and I think Sugar Shane will box-box-box, throwing many more punches than he did in the first fight.” Tom Thompson, TigerBoxing.com
“Give me Mosley by split decision. I think it’s a good matchup of two very skilled fighters, but I go with this based on his new trainer, plus the fact that when his back’s to the wall, Shane seems to do much better: I thought he gave great effort in his second fight
with Forrest (despite the loss), I thought he did great in his rematch with De La Hoya.”
Trae Thompson, Ft. Worth Star-Telegram
“It’s not so much that Wright has Shane’s number, it is just that the Winkmeister is a natural 154 fighter, with great technical skills, an in-your-face laser-like jab and good power to keep the smaller Mosley at bay. No way around it, Mosley has to be the aggressor, trying to get in and out with lightning fast combinations and reset. Winky surely knows this, and as good a super-counterpuncher as he is, with the reach advantage, the only result I see is a points repeat win for the Floridian fighter in Wright.” German Villasenor, BoxingGladiators.com
“I like Winky Wright in a 12-round decision. The fight won’t be even close.” Calvin Watkins, Dallas Morning News
“Henry Armstrong by KO 8.” World Famous Jack Welsh, RingSports.com
“Winky’s all wrong for Sugar Shane. Yesterday, today, tomorrow. Winky wins, Winky wins, Winky wins. A repeat of Mosley-Wright I.” John Whisler, San Antonio Express-News
“Mosley can’t handle a tall opponent who works behind a good, hard jab and who keeps a tight defenseand doesn’t try to match speed with him. His only hope is to outwork Wright, whose jab won’t let him. Wright by unanimous decision.” Johnnie Whitehead, The Ring / KO Magazines
“Nothing in their first fight would suggest the outcome in the rematch should be any different. But there has been a change of trainers for Mosley and he has the one intangible that makes fighters perform at their peak: desperation. Mosley’s career is on the line, while Wright is in the unfamiliar role as the favorite. It should be a great fight. Mosley by decision.” George Willis, New York Post
FINAL TALLY: WRIGHT 74 / MOSLEY 13 / DRAW 1
