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.