By David P. Greisman
In the eyes of many, Ronald “Winky” Wright was to have been sacrificed at the altar of Felix “Tito” Trinidad last weekend at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, but in the time leading up to his biggest event ever, Wright remained confident, and over the course of twelve rounds easily slayed the shark that had meant to devour him. This week’s edition of Fighting Words comes to you a day late, but not a dollar short, as it is chock full of commentary concerning Winky’s victory, Tito’s retirement, Zab Judah’s easy win and the general barrenness of the welterweight division, Don King and Larry Merchant acting the insensitive fools on television, and the other magnificent mixed bag that will wrap up this column in The Ten Count.
Winky Wright – The Southpaw and his Shutout
Although only one of the judges’ cards gave Winky Wright a shutout victory (at 120-107), with the other two reading 119-108, Wright’s dominance should be seen as nothing less than a shutout. Mainly, that he shut Tito Trinidad out in the area of offense, where Trinidad landed about ten percent of his punches. Like Ricardo Mayorga last October, Wright stood right in front of Tito, but the Pride of Puerto Rico couldn’t break through the southpaw stylist’s defenses.
While blocking Tito’s power shots with his gloves and elbows, Wright was able to take charge behind a consistently stiff jab, which opened up the door for left crosses and the occasional hook that would keep Trinidad honest.
Trinidad’s game plan had been one-dimensional, to explode with artillery and overwhelm the expectedly smaller former junior middleweight champion. What was passed over, though, was that Winky had been fighting at 154 pounds for his whole career, and walked around between fights as much as thirty pounds north, while Tito’s journey had been initiated at 140, his success beginning at welterweight.
Wright was the bigger man in the ring, and Team Trinidad’s underestimation of their opponent left their charge frustrated, ineffective and open to be hit at will. Had Winky wanted to open up in front of an always dangerous Tito and attempt to take him out, it could have been possible. The bludgeoning from Winky’s jab and cross had marked and wobbled Tito, and Trinidad’s continued mistake of circling to his right against a southpaw only left him more prone and vulnerable.
Wright was never in danger against Trinidad, and his brilliant showing may also have shut him out for a lucrative rematch against Tito, who has retired (more on that later), as well as against other top names in and around middleweight. Wright may have earned too much respect on Saturday, as the best, and hence the most difficult pugilists are often passed over. Still, Winky earned the number one contender spot in the WBC, and hence a shot at the winner of the July 16 match between Bernard Hopkins and Jermain Taylor. Don King’s deft maneuvering of the sanctioning bodies, meant to stimulate Tito’s comeback, will now further Winky’s continued ascendance.
Tito Trinidad – Sore, Loser
Twice now, Tito Trinidad has been wiped out by an intelligent, wizardly boxer, and chosen to fade away into retirement (and, yes, a Hall of Fame entry) rather than battle adversity.
With the buzzing among media about Trinidad’s quitting likely to become confirmed as these words are being typed, and with the decision less probable of being changed than John Ruiz’s unfortunate return, one ponders the circumstances and implications.
Trinidad was one of the most exciting draws for nearly a decade, building up an impressive undefeated record and reputation that was shattered in September 2001 by Bernard Hopkins. When a rematch with Hopkins fell through, Tito took an easy homecoming victory against Hassine Cherifi and then fell out of the spotlight.
History revisionists may point out that last year’s comeback fight against Ricardo Mayorga was against a tailor-made opponent (which is true), but casual and paid observers alike had jumped back on the Trinidad wagon, expecting great accomplishments, and quickly.
So, too, did Trinidad, and with his impotence against Wright, a sense of shame, which shouldn’t exist, as Tito was simply outclassed, is overwhelming both Tito and his father. Papa Trinidad lamented post-fight that he was a mess in his son’s corner, offering little assistance, and thus he should retire so as not to hold his own flesh and blood back. Tito, of course, favors family over fighting, and seems content to once again leave.
It is Tito’s privilege, and his multiple retirements should not diminish his career’s accomplishments, but it is sad to see that, while Peter Manfredo Jr. comes back on The Contender to avenge his first loss, Felix Trinidad Jr. would rather make like the Beatles and Let It Be.
When Felix Trinidad’s first lost, his conqueror Hopkins was finally allowed into the pantheon of respect. With Tito’s second, and final, Winky Wright has garnered the same privilege. Perhaps that is the way it should be; Trinidad’s retirement extends others’ legacies while in no manner limiting his own.
Zab Judah – King of the Heap
Easily beating mandatory challenger Cosme Rivera via a third-round TKO, Zab Judah, the WBC, WBA and IBF titlist, has set himself up as the cream of the crop in the welterweight division, a man who will take on all challengers but would prefer, of course, the big money fights. In reality, though, as shown by the skill level of Rivera, the IBF #1 rated contender, Judah is king of the heap, a division that aside from the Brooklynite and WBO beltholder (and force to be reckoned with) Antonio Margarito, is desperately awaiting the returns of stars like Shane Mosley (who came back to 147 in April when he outpointed David Estrada) and Oscar De La Hoya.
Judah was impressive in his knockouts of both Rivera and former champ Cory Spinks, exhibiting the focus that has been the missing companion of his considerable skills over the years. But when there is a boom of talent and prospects at 140 (where Judah’s conqueror Kostya Tszyu still resides) and a migration towards 154 and 160 (not helped by The Contender sucking up prospects and forcing them to fight as middleweights on the show), Judah is left seeking action, attention.
And on a night when he truly deserved attention, having dispatched of Rivera, knocking him down three times (including once in the opening seconds) before referee Joe Cortez called a halt, Don King stole the spotlight, and Larry Merchant played the accomplice.
Merchant asked Judah a couple of questions, and then, realizing that King’s holding of Tito Trinidad in his stable meant a tremendous windfall to the fuzzy one and HBO alike, sighed and gave in to King’s desire to be on the mic, in front of the camera.
It was awkward, seeing Judah just standing to King’s side, on the periphery of the television screen, as King pontificated about his upcoming shows. The only justice came after the main event, when as Winky Wright was being interviewed, King’s comment on the victor being a true “Cinderella Man” (the motion picture was being advertised on the mat and as a sponsor) came as a chalkboard-scratching noise somewhere off-lens.
The Ten Count
1. The other televised fight on the pay-per-view undercard was a junior flyweight clash between IBF champion Victor Burgos and challenger Will Grigsby. Thanks to a unanimous twelve round decision, Grigsby regained the IBF belt that he lost in 1999, and became the fourth new champion at 108 pounds this year, as all of the belts now have new owners.
2. A couple weeks ago I pronounced James Toney as the “Heavyweight Savior,” but in light of his testing positive for a banned substance and subsequent no contest and suspension handed down by the New York State Athletic Commission, “Lights Out” has become my “Heavyweight Scapegoat” for letting John Ruiz get his WBA trinket back.
3. Clifford Etienne lost to the seven foot tall Nicolay Valuev by third round knockout in Germany over the weekend, giving the Beast from the East a 41-0 (31) record. Etienne, of course, complained about illegal punches behind the head, but the way his cranium takes punishment (which is to say, poorly), I see him being kayoed by Bea Arthur and then retiring.
4. Finally rented Fight Night: Round Two, and although I am enjoying it, I think it might only be worth owning for the diehard boxing video gamer. Give me Mike Tyson’s Punch Out anyway, and I’ll be happy.
5. The aforementioned Cinderella Man, which chronicles Depression-era heavyweight James J. Braddock, will be hitting the big screen on June 3, while Oscar-darling Million Dollar Baby will be released on DVD on July 12. If the Braddock flick interests you, be sure to pick up Jeremy Schaap’s same-titled biography, which was excerpted in a recent issue of Sports Illustrated.
6. In case any of you were wondering why this column was late, it was because I spit out my mouthpiece and was given extra time.
7. Championship Calender Update: IBF super bantamweight king Israel Vasquez will be defending against Armando Guerrero on May 31. Vasquez, who had initially been slated to face Julio Gamboa in a non-title fight, last retained his title with a December TKO of Artyom Simonyan.
Chris Byrd’s next defense will be on a July 23 Don King PPV, against Serguei Lyakhovich.
8. I perused a couple of Thomas Hauser’s column compilations at a bookstore the other day, found his commentaries and implications of the formerly corrupt New York State Athletic Commission to be intriguing. I wish there were more compilations of boxing writing, although in my eyes, the best boxing articles I’ve seen to date were in a collection by noted baseball scribe Thomas Boswell.
9. As the next slot in The Ten Count will get into, the reality show The Contender is wrapping up soon. I am now taking suggestions for what should take up residence in the final slot each week, and I can be reached at dgreisman@aol.com.
10. The Contender Update: The show’s wrapping up, and it seems that it will go out with a bang. On Sunday’s episode, Peter Manfredo Jr. avenged his first-episode (and first ever) loss, beating Alfonso Gomez by unanimous decision and earning him a slot in the live million-dollar finale. Next week’s episode will pit Jesse Brinkley against Sergio Mora in the final Sunday episode, with the series finale being a two-hour special on Tuesday, May 24. In most aspects, the show has been enjoyable, although not without some complaints (edited fights, for example), and I am appreciative of the spotlight that Mark Burnett has brought to boxing and some of the contestants. The Contender was much, much, much better than Fox and Oscar De La Hoya’s The Next Great Champ, and it will be a shame when, in all likelihood, NBC officially decides to not renew for a second season.
Fighting Words Returns Next Monday, Hopefully
Fighting Words is scheduled to come to you on BoxingScene.com each and every Monday, but as reality has shown, it will occasionally be featured on Tuesdays. I ask your patience, and thank you for your continued readership, as I attempt to stay on schedule while balancing the very important aspects of school and life. Next week’s edition, of course, will touch on the Andrew Golota/Lamon Brewster heavyweight title fight. In the meantime, please feel free to write to me with questions and opinions at dgreisman@aol.com.
