By Frank Lotierzo - GlovedFist@Juno.com - After winning a majority decision in his rematch with Shane Mosley and retaining his WBA and WBC Junior Middleweight titles, Winky Wright was asked by HBO's Larry Merchant who he'd like to fight next. The two names that Wright mentioned were undisputed Middleweight Champion Bernard Hopkins and former WBC Champ Felix Trinidad. And it was Trinidad who Wright stressed the most as the fighter he would like to face next.
I remember last December at the Hopkins-Joppy triple header when I spoke to Trinidad and he said he was coming back. It was due to a brief conversation between Trinidad and Wright that prompted me to ask Trinidad if he was fighting again. To paraphrase, the exchange went something like this. Trinidad was sitting with his wife about 8 rows back from the ring when Wright came up to him and shook hands. Winky said something to the effect, I hear your fighting again, if so don't forget me. Tito put out his hand to Wright and nodded in agreement and said, it will be at 160. Wright nodded back in agreement and went back to his seat.
Since that December night, Wright has defeated Shane Mosley twice and is recognized as the undisputed Junior Middleweight champ. Trinidad has fought once against Ricardo Mayorga, and took him apart stopping him in eight rounds. In their three fights over the last eleven months both Wright and Trinidad fought and defeated two formidable fighters in Mosley and Mayorga. And just as the outcome between Wright-Mosley and Trinidad-Mayorga was dictated by fighting styles, that will also be the case in a potential Wright-Trinidad bout.
In Wright's rematch with Shane Mosley, he fought basically the same as he did in the first fight. Wright moved in behind his jab while holding his hands up and elbows in while tucking his chin. His jab kept Mosley on his heels and out of punching range most of the time. I thought Mosley showed a lot of heart and determination during the fight and scored it a draw 114-114. However, if forced to declare a winner I think a case can be made slightly in favor of Wright, where the absolute best case for Mosley is a draw. I scored it 6-6 in rounds giving Mosley the 12th round. I may have been off a round and possibly gave one to Mosley that should've been Wright's. So 6-6 or 7-5 Wright is the score that best indicates what transpired in the ring.
After watching both fights between them, I don't come away thinking Winky Wright is definitely a better fighter than Shane Mosley. What I see and come away with is, Wright's build and body structure along with him fighting out of a southpaw stance are what give Mosley a fit fighting against Wright. I see it as being the fact that Wright simply throws long and straight conventional right jabs and straight lefts. Mosley throws more of a pawing jab to set up his pot-shot right hand and left hooks.
Anyone who knows boxing is aware that straight punches get to there intended destination first. And when they land they nullify shorter compact hooks, the type that Mosley often throws. It's almost as if Mosley has to fight two different fights at the same time versus Wright. Since Mosley can do his best on the inside, he has to beat Wright outside first, because he isn't physically strong enough to pressure and force Wright back. The bottom line is that Mosley couldn't fight any better against Wright than he did in the rematch, he just doesn't match up with him.
However, Wright against Trinidad is a different story. Against Trinidad, I think Wright would be forced back. Walking Mosley down is a lot different than trying to do the same to Trinidad. And that's because Trinidad can punch with either hand. Mosley being a former Lightweight doesn't have the big-gun that Trinidad has. Wright can go to Mosley with impunity. The last thing any fighter should do is go to a puncher, unless of course he's the bigger puncher. And if we know nothing else about Wright and Trinidad, we know Trinidad is the bigger puncher with either hand. Not to mention Wright's southpaw style won't effect Trinidad like it did Mosley because Trinidad will be forcing it on the inside.
Trinidad can only fight effective by moving forward, forcing the fight. Wright too likes to come forward, but that plays into what Trinidad wants. If Wright goes to Trinidad, he'll be forced to fight and trade with him, something that doesn't put him in the best position to win. Wright will be forced to move back and box versus Trinidad. The question becomes whether or not Wright is physically strong enough to box Trinidad and keep from being forced to fight him.
In his return fight against Ricardo Mayorga, Trinidad faced a fighter who made his living walking through his opponents just as Trinidad. The difference between them when they finally got in the ring was Trinidad also was the more refined and finished fighter along with being the bigger puncher. After eight rounds Trinidad was too much fighter for Mayorga.
Winky Wright in two fights was just too long and strong for Shane Mosley. In the end it was Mosley who couldn't find the right blend of boxing and punching to beat Wright in two tries. In a potential Wright-Trinidad bout, styles once again will ultimately determine the fighter who has his hands raised. It says here that Trinidad matches up better with Wright then vice-versa.
Based off what I've seen from Trinidad fighting Mayorga and Wright fighting Mosley twice, I can't see how Trinidad cannot be favored over Wright. Winky is very good and he is a special fighter, but he is no Hopkins. Remember it took Hopkins almost 12 full rounds to finally get Trinidad out.
