Once again the weekend is looming & in just a few more days it'll be time for another installment of Wacko's Drunken Round By Round!!!

This weekend our coverage picks up in the Wack one's favorite spot...160lbs.

We start off with a bang as we settle in for the replay of last weekends Bernard Hopkins Antonio Tarver destruction match. My done good.

I was highly impressed & even more shocked as he blasted Tarver out over a lopsided unanimous decision. He said that it would come to pass...& it did.

I think that even people that predicted that win were shocked. Be that as it may...afterwards it's a fight that many of us have been salivating for & even more have been dreading...Jermain Taylor (25 wins with 17 ko's) vs Ronald Winky Wright (50 wins with 25 ko's & 3 losses) is coming at us live Saturday, June the 17th, 2006 courtesy of HBO's World Championship Boxing.


As usual I like to do a bit of prep work for the match up...so here goes.

First off...let the record state that I hate to pick a winner here as these are two of my favorites...but if I had to pick...I'd want Wright to win. It doesn't do a lot for boxing if he does...but Taylor could still shine bright in the future & IWO...Wright has put in his due time & I want to see him walk with a win...that being said...on with the bias factors of favor! Heh heh heh.

Win, lose, or draw...the Factors for & against Wright:

Factor #1: Amazing jab. Almost unstoppable. It's given every single person that climbed through the ropes against him problems. Only two or three men have been able to stand up to it in 50 some odd fights...which brings us to the next factor.

Factor #2: Experience. Wright has more experience & craft than Taylor & he'll most likely know how to use & abuse it...which is bad for Taylor. There haven't been any puzzles that Wright hasn't been able to solve...then again...Wright's #2 & #3 could have problems when it meets up to Taylor's #2 & his #3.

Factor #3: Defense. Best in the biz. Bar none. It's pretty hard to find anyone that can crack into Wright's blockade. To date no one has. Wright's early losses were in a different stance, he's a whole new ball game now. Taylor better have a plan B-Z for Wright.

Factor #4: Stamina. Wright can go all night as proven in the past & has done so with some very atheletic fighters.

Factor #5: Chin. Wright's chins been checked & it's never been broken. If Taylor can get through the D then he's got to factor in the C & there have been no problems to date. Wright can take a lickin & keep on stickin.

Factor #6: Power...or lack there of. Wright is going to have to rely on slickness & abilities seeing as how he's not a huge puncher at 160lbs. He better be able to go all night & he better be able to move. Either that...or he counts light bulbs ala Taylor.

#7: The World Stage. Wright has been on the world stage against some of the most skilled & powerful boxers of the 154lb division. He's bested Soliman & Trinidad convincgly & he also got the better of the slick & skilled Sugar Shane Mosley. I'd lean towards Wright for these reasons also...then again...this #7 & Taylor's #7 go hand in hand.

Win, lose, or draw...the Factors for & against Taylor:

Factor #1: Youth. This is Taylor's strong suit. He'll be quick off the start & could use that to his advantage against he elder Wright...but only carefully.

Factor #2: Amazing jab. Almost unstoppable...but if there is anyone that could stop it...he's in with him come Saturday night.

Factor #3: Power...& lots of it. With a bit of technique Taylor can rule this match. Scratch that...he'll need a lot of tecnique coupled with his power.

Factor #4: Experience. The Hopkins fight brings Taylor into question. Hopkins is Hopkins...granted he makes anyone look bad...but Wright has the same ability beneath his belt IWO. I have a feeling if this goes deep...Taylor might be made to look rather foolish against the slick defensive tactician in Wright.

Factor #5: Stamina. Again...the Hopkins fight. Taylor gassed out & almost drowned when Hopkins took him deep. He's lucky that he's not fighting the same style in Wright. He may not be faced with this issue seeing as how Wright shoots from behind the guard. This is a big if.

#6: New Trainer. Not sure about this one. Taylor switched up 6 weeks of training for Emmanuel Stewart ...this could be a positive or a negative...it's just to tuff to call right now. I personally don't think that it'll make a difference & it's a bit puzzling to hear Manny talk one month about how great Wright is & the next how poor Taylor looked & then to see him in the kid's corner. Odd.

#7: The World Stage. Taylor is now in the big time. Argueably Wright has the advantage here...but let's not forget that Taylor was on the big stage with Hopkins twice, Joppy once, & he gutted it out in the Olympics. Still...I'm leaning towards Wright here as I feel that Taylor pressed with any opposition seems to lose focus under the grand lights & on the big canvas. Maybe this is where trainer Emmanuel Stewart comes in handy?

Prediction: Wright by hard fought SD...or Taylor by HBO favoritism.

You might think that I don't like Taylor...I do. Those of you that have been here long enough or those that were here at the start that had to hear me campaigning the kid...well...you know that I dig on him...but I want him to do this the right way.

If he's gonna rule...I want him to cement his legacy...not have it handed over to him...so...as I said before...if he wins convincingly...I will be fine with that.

The kid could be good for boxing...no shat...but again...selfishness pushes me towards wanting a Wright win.

Two things are going to be the deciding factors of this fight...the jab & the defence. Both have fantastic jabs...one's got a beautiful defense...the question is...can it hold up to a legit 160lb jab?

We shall see.

So...as always...break out the chips & salsa...your poison of choice & pick your spot on the couch...Saturday June the 17th, 2006 is fight night & it's on like Donkey Kong!

Cheers...& koneecheewah bitches.