Winky: "When I Beat B-Hop I Don't Want Excuses"

THE WINKSTER SPOUTS
Jason Gonzales www.thesweetscience.com

The “Coming to Fight” promotional tour featuring Bernard “The Executioner” Hopkins and Ronald “Winky” Wright kicked off Tuesday in the ‘Big Apple’. It was announced, at the ESPN Zone, that both Hopkins and Wright are scheduled to collide head on July 21 for the Ring Magazine light heavyweight championship at the Mandalay Bay, in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Wright, 51-3-1, 25 KO’s, a former two-time junior middleweight champion, is stepping into the squared circle for the first time since his dominating performance over Ike Quartey in December. Wright, who has spent most of his entire career at 154 pounds, has fought his last four fights at the 160-pound mark. This time around Wright travels into uncharted waters as he agrees to fight the recognized light heavyweight champion at a contractual weight of 170 pounds.



"Bernard's got his little crafty stuff and all the little things he does, but it ain't going to work," said the 35-year-old Wright, a southpaw, who holds two victories over “Sugar” Shane Mosley. "I run away from no challenge. In round No. 1, I'm going to be in his ass, and it's going to be a fight." At $49.95 a pop, it be better be a fight.

Most of the boxing pundits are anticipating a snooze fest. But in defense of Wright, he has been recently thinking more in the realm of an offensive fighter than a defensive one. That was evident in the draw against Jermain Taylor back in June of last year.



Wright hasn’t tasted defeat in over 8 years, and he vows that the streak will continue after July 21.

“The Boogey-man is going to rest,” Wright said, implying that Hopkins’s facial features aren’t easy on the corneas. “I am killing the boogey-man, you don’t have to be afraid anymore.”



Easier said then done. When was the last time you’ve seen Hopkins take a lot of punishment or get beat up real bad? In my years watching the game I can honestly say that I haven’t. Considering that Wright is moving ten pounds north, logically Hopkins would have the advantage. Why not meet somewhere in the middle, like say, super middleweight [168]?



“If I chose 168 he would have an excuse as for why he lost,” Wright told TSS. “When I beat him I don’t want any excuses. We both agreed on 170. 170 is cool. I want to make it equal for both participants. So on fight night it’s going to be cool.”



Considering that Wright has been fighting for most of his career in relative obscurity, for Wright, Hopkins is the best available opponent for him. With respect to Joe Calzaghe, Calzaghe hasn’t really shown any interest in fighting in the United States. Taylor is tied up with Cory Spinks and will most likely move on to fight Calzaghe if victorious. So who else is out there on the middleweight-super middleweight-light heavyweight landscape? Hopkins is one of the better fighters of this era. And a victory over Hopkins automatically cinches a one-way ticket to Canastota for Wright.



You have to wonder how a fighter with the ability and the skills of a Wright, has had fame and notoriety elude him for most of his career. The general public wasn’t even taking him seriously after the two victories over Mosley. What’s the reason?



“No one wanted to fight me,” answered Wright.

I’ll buy that; a crafty southpaw isn’t always high on a fighter’s list of opponents.

“Oscar De La Hoya skipped me, “Tito” Trinidad was skipping me till Hopkins beat him. And the same goes for Taylor. I would have fought Hopkins a long time ago if it had been up to me.”


SPEEDBAG: New York City was the first stop on a five-city press tour. They're continuing on to Tampa, FL, then on to Washington, D.C., then on to Philadelphia, PA and concluding in Los Angeles, CA.



--Both Hopkins and Wright have beaten Puerto Rican star Felix “Tito” Trinidad.



--Both Hopkins and Wright have been on the losing end of what was deemed as a controversial decision in their fights with Jermain Taylor.



--After the fight Wright says that he will not stay at light heavyweight. He plans on coming back down to the neighborhood of 160-168 pounds.



--Wright denies the claim that he is a part of Golden Boy Promotions. Hopkins confirmed the fact to the media present. Strangely enough Wright is seen on the banner of the Golden Boy website and is listed as fighter on the Golden Boy roster. With Juan Manuel Marquez and Marco Antonio Barrera already fighting each other, it seems that Golden Boy is monopolizing boxing.

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--Wright is also good friends with Detroit Tiger RF Gary Sheffield.

Many people thought that Tarver would blow thru Hopkins & look what happened? Hopkins is crafty & very experienced & knows how to win a fight

".....In round No. 1, I'm going to be in his ass.........."

Blimey!

any one think winky has got a case for p4p 1 if he beats hopkins????

I don't know who could win but i sure like for winky to win

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Originally Posted by NorthSideX4

Many people thought that Tarver would blow thru Hopkins & look what happened? Hopkins is crafty & very experienced & knows how to win a fight

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This is true although Winky has a tighter defense than Tarver and is a little quicker. The added weight will be interesting. Hard to pick the winner in this, I keep going back and forth. I have to lean toward Winky. He is a well rounded professional, Tarver was good but overrated a little.

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Originally Posted by NorthSideX4

Many people thought that Tarver would blow thru Hopkins & look what happened? Hopkins is crafty & very experienced & knows how to win a fight

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Master Craftsmen is Hopkins
Welcome back Northside ;)

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Originally Posted by gudnite vienna

any one think winky has got a case for p4p 1 if he beats hopkins????

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I'd fight his corner. Winky doesn't duck people, and is on my list of favourite fighters. You gotta love Winky.

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Originally Posted by NorthSideX4

Many people thought that Tarver would blow thru Hopkins & look what happened? Hopkins is crafty & very experienced & knows how to win a fight

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Gotta go with B-HOP on this one.....170?? I don't fashion WW as a larger PBF....I think the weight will be too much.....of course, I've been wrong before....:)

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Originally Posted by gudnite vienna

any one think winky has got a case for p4p 1 if he beats hopkins????

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I have been saying he should be number one for a long time.

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Originally Posted by boozeboxer

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Originally Posted by gudnite vienna

any one think winky has got a case for p4p 1 if he beats hopkins????

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I have been saying he should be number one for a long time.

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I think being inactive for a while hasn't helped his cause

I think Winky should definitely be #2. B-Hop is old as hell, let's not forget that. When Winky says he's coming to fight, I believe him, he might not hit hard but he's very active for all 12 rounds.

Winky Wright's definitely got mad skillz but he only has one chance at winning this fight and that is if Old Father Time has caught up to B-Hop finally, which judging by his performance against Tarver does not suggest. In fact he looks stronger than ever being able to put on the extra weight and looked more dominant and aggressive against Antonio than I had seen him in years. I wonder if he has Mackie Shilstone helping him train his weight for this bout? If so, even more of an advantage to

Wright has a great resume; yes he's beaten Mosley twice but that was at a much smaller weight, do you think Hopkins would not have crushed Sugar Shane if Shane challenged him at 170? I doubt that Mosley would have done much better (or much worse) than his boss, Oscar Delahoya when he got body-punched to the canvas when he was knocked out by Bernard Hopkins when he challenged him at 160...

Another advangage Winky's had in the past...Wright has a style that poses problems for most opponents because he fights from the southpaw stance (although he is actually right handed)...but apparently Hopkins has no problems fighting against southpaws (as he has proved in his undefeated ring experience against them), so I dont think there will be a southpaw jinx or advantage for Wright as there has been in the past (Trinidad didnt seem to have a clue as to how to fight a left handed fighter when those to met as he was blown out of the water...BUT...if I might add, not as blown out of the water as he was when he was handed his first defeat years ago in knockout loss to Hopkins).

Or will this fight, like a lot of people say, be a very boring, very defensive-minded fight with the two boxers circling eachother, playing tag on the outside but never really engaging eachother or taking any risks to get inside and commit to anything resembling an attack with the intent of doing damage to one's opponent? It's boxing and anything can happen so who know...but I think this is the main factor that's gonna determine how the fight goes. If Bernard Hopkins comes beefed-up and trained to a tee to commit legalized murder like he had been training to do in the Tarver fight, he presses the fight and I can see him using his size, smarts and bag of B-Hop tricks to literally beat Wright in every exchange until Winky eventually just turtleshells, freezes completely into defensive mode and doesnt throw anything back, forcing a stoppage.

As for Winky's shit-talking on this matter; he is going to get excuses whether he likes it or not if he wins. That is part of the risk when you fight an aging boxer who is on his way out of the sport and is almost 43 years old. It just so happens that this 43-year old is still one of the best fighters out there, so he needs to just shut up and take the risk if he wants the money and possibly the glory of beating the man, or he needs not to take the fight if he's worried about people making excuses. As a fighter he shouldnt give a damn what people say or make excuses about. People always make excuses. Especially fans. When my fighters lose, I know I make excuses for 'em. Almost every time.

Winky Wright refers to Bernard Hopkins as "The Boogey Man"? Why? Because Hopkins lacks the finely chiseled, ruggedly good looking features of a matinee idol like Wright? If anything, Bernard's looks represent who he is and where he's from. He has a very good look for what he does, because he looks intimidating. Talking shit is one thing. But you gotta be able to back it up for it to be cool. Winky Wright ain't exactly America's Next Top Model...and this aint a beauty pageant either...and that wasn't cool. I'm not saying Wright isnt a great fighter and doesnt deserve a spot on the P4P list because he does. But in this fight, at this weight, I think he is in for a more serious ass-kicking than most people probably think will come out of a match up like this.

Hopkins by UD. A lopsided unanimous decision. Too much weight for Winky Wright. Another example of how a good bigger man beats a good but smaller man.

In the last 8 years when has anyone beaten Winky by a lopsided UD? Taylor is probably just as big and strong as B-hop (although he's more an outside fighter) but still, there's no way Winky loses a lopsided decision, this fight has SD/Draw written all over it, simply cos they're both too clever to be beaten, I think that Winky may tire late on but at the same time, Winky may pressure B-hop and the years my creep in, you never know, which is why I'm loving this fight, I think Winky is gonna bring it full on for 12 rounds, and B-hop is gonna have to fend him off to win.

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Originally Posted by Puya

I don't know who could win but i sure like for winky to win

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CC bro! im going for winky by UD or CONDOR MAN by KO! :-* te amo

I just hope this fight don't end in a split decision. With the three Taylor fights ending the way they did, and how close both of these fighters skills are, it probably will be a split. I just hope we have a clear winner, regardless of the victor.

well judging how b-hop is he wont do shiiiiit again for about the first 5-6rounds and be puzzled by winkys defense.

so i see b-hop really turning it up in the later rounds after giving away the first 1/2 to winky and so its a matter of how much b-hop can turn it up in the later rounds to close the deal?

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Originally Posted by yoitsdan

In the last 8 years when has anyone beaten Winky by a lopsided UD? Taylor is probably just as big and strong as B-hop (although he's more an outside fighter) but still, there's no way Winky loses a lopsided decision, this fight has SD/Draw written all over it, simply cos they're both too clever to be beaten, I think that Winky may tire late on but at the same time, Winky may pressure B-hop and the years my creep in, you never know, which is why I'm loving this fight, I think Winky is gonna bring it full on for 12 rounds, and B-hop is gonna have to fend him off to win.

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true. you may be right we will have to wait and see. what you said stands a chance of happening too, i just see it more in B-Hops favor cuz he's the bigger guy and I think they are both at the same level as far as boxing strategy, skills and defensiveness...the top level...

Let's hope both men (not just B-Hop alone) give excuses if and when they lose. ^-^

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Originally Posted by halo

Let's hope both men (not just B-Hop alone) give excuses if and when they lose. ^-^

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haha you know they will! no matter who loses there will be an excuse! I dont think Hop would take this fight if he didnt think he really had it safely in the bag. I dont think most fighters consider Wright as dangerous opponent in that he can hurt u. If Bernard does lose it will be on points and probably he will come out more or less unscathed because Wright doesnt hit real hard. So if he drops a decision to him he wont get physically hurt and hey...he can always say...well we knew it was comin to an end here soon...ya never know how many fights a fighter got left...maybe this was the last one...See? now i came up with one for him.

No seriously though, I think Hopkins is more than ready and will be the physical-bullying type Bernard Hopkins as we saw in the Tarver fight. He will fight while trying to push Winky around, and i think his goal is, and should be, to go in there and make it the physical, aggressive, philadelphia-type style of fight that Wright is not going to bring. He needs to go in there and beat him up. Come June, let's see if he can/will.

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Originally Posted by gudnite vienna

any one think winky has got a case for p4p 1 if he beats hopkins????

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Now Floyds retired , I think whoever wins this will be p4p number 1 .

I fully expect Winky to come at B-hop and depend on volume rather than his peek aboo defence . His gloves will be up but he will fight him how he fought Taylor as he probably expects Nard to have less fire and wont throw back as often . I see this being effective for the first few rounds until Hopkins begins to find his timing and work out the puzzle like the great ring genius he is .

From round 5 onwards Nard will give him angles and try to break his rythm , he wont be able to punch with Winky so his success will be with clever single shots , his aim will be to keep Winky turning and positioning him so he is never set to launch his attacks . It be like Winkys bull to Nards matador . Even though Hopkins is the bigger man he wont appear the stronger as at his age he cant maintain the pace Wright will set . Wright may be busier but Hopkins I believe will put more emphasis on his punches and the fight will be pretty even going into the championship rounds . Late on is where Hopkins will really turn it on . His size will start to tell and I believe he will close the show in style . It will be enough to earn him the decision but whether or not he gets it is another question . Who knows what the judges have planned for the outcome.

Its teh type of fight that will be open to interpretations and both men will claim victory . We will probably get an SD or a close UD but Hopkins I think is the more likely winner . 115-113

i like winky more and i have no predictions
cuz it is hard to picture it in my head