Why Not? I: Arthur Abraham vs. Winky Wright

I personally was surprised that Team Abraham took the Miranda fight--it was one of those fights that I expected to not happen one way or another. And then, of course, when Abraham got sick and the fight was postponed, people starting groaning and talking about how he didn't want the challenge. But the fight came off, and Abraham showed a ton of heart and toughness in that fight. He is no longer a prospect, and I think it was that fight that proved--regardless or whether you think he won or lost--that he was a world-class fighter. I think he's very, very good, and I think putting him in with Winky (one of my favorites) would prove just how good he is. I want to see this fight, and I just wish HBO did too. It makes alot of sense to me.

if yall are comparing opposition then there shouldn't even be a discussion. it dosent matter who they fought early in their career. its who fought the best overall people. its clearly winky. he traveled overseas and fought anybody and anywhere. not to mention he beat Mosley twice, i thought he beat Taylor and Hopkins, and he erased Trinidad. Trinidad was still a good fighter at the time and i think winky would have still beat Trinidad even if he was in his prime. he just has the wrong style for him. but if wink and Abraham fought, I'll pick winky by split decision. :boxing: he would give Abraham alot of trouble with that slick southpaw style. winky has fought and beat top 10 pound for pound fighters. besides, if Miranda did not get stupid and start fouling him, he would have definitely beaten him. he landed twice as many punches as Abraham and broke his jaw.

No disrespect to Gevor intended, but sanctioning body rankings are basically bought and sold. Find Gevor on any respected ring critics top tens (let alone top three like in those) and I'd be shocked. I'd like to see Abraham in against Felix Sturm for what its worth. I think that would be an excellent barometer. Sturm is the type of fighter that the elite level guys will beat, but he will beat almost everyone else. I think that is the perfect potential matchup assuming he isn't going to go to England or the US.

Hey Buddy what the hell are you talking about? You sound like you know a little about boxing. You should know that there is a system of rankings in each organization. Khoren Gevor was the highest ranked boxer so he go the mandatory. The fight was Edison Miranda's but he passed it to the next highest ranked boxer in the IBF which was Khoren Gevor. Khoren Gevor is actually ranked by 2 other organizations as a top contender. WBA - Ranked #2 WBO - Ranked #2 IBF - Ranked #4 (#2, #3 are vacant) So how is he being protected? Go watch the fight, Khoren was a legitamate boxer. He has great skills. Arthur Abraham had a volunatary fight with an undefeated fighter. Was that being protected too? Man cmon stop hating and be reasonable.

Biased? What? I don't even particularly like Winky Wright. Either way though, your post is very uneducated. Winky Wright wasn't an elite fighter in his 25th fight like Abraham is supposed to be. He was a random bum. Winky wasn't particularly protected, he just wasn't supposed to be anything. Up until 99 he lost to every B level and up fighter he faced. He just wasn't an elite fighter so why would he be fighting other good fighters? I don't see why comparing him to Abraham, who has made six defenses of a world title, is really relevant at all. Just look at the resumes of the guys he has defended against. I'm sure you'll find the Sherwin Davis and Howard Eastmans of the world, but nothing more. These are competent guys, I don't mean to say they aren't, but you've got to scratch your head at the IBF for not mandating other elite level fighters for his defenses. EDIT: And yes, I'm well aware he stepped up to win a belt much earlier than most fighters, but that was his choice. The lack of legitimate opposition (and trust me, Miranda was not expected to be elite opposition at that time) in defense of his belt is what gets me. He didn't have to step up and win a belt, so he did. Why not defend it against anyone with any real stature? Once you win a title you've arrived. If he wasn't ready yet then he shouldn't have fought for it.

The so called "bums" he's facing are actually pretty tough. I watched his last two fights and you can tell by watching that they are solid fighters. But all people do is look through Boxrec instead of actually watching the fights. He has a solid resume considering he's only been fighting for three years, you have guys like pavlik out there who don't step up until they've got 25-30 easy wins under their belt.

The so called "bums" he's facing are actually pretty tough. I watched his last two fights and you can tell by watching that they are solid fighters. But all people do is look through Boxrec instead of actually watching the fights.

Googler is so right...

In his 17th pro fight Arthur ABraham faced Howard Eastman and then Ikeke. On the contrary Winky fough 17th Darryl Lattimore - 20-6-0 18th Roland Commings - 17-10-2 19th Eric Holland - 9-14-3 20th James Stokes 14-7-0 21st Leon Rouse - 5-11-0 24th Armando Herrera 0-2-0 25th Orlando Orozco 11-20-3 LOOK AT WINKYS PRO FIGHTS BEFORE U SAY ARTHUR IS BEING PROTECTED U FUCKING IDIOT!

Abraham and his team have seemed content with the bums he has been defending his title against and the IBF has been in no hurry to mandate a legitimate challenger since Miranda (who i suspect they didnt even consider legitimate at the time). Arthur Abraham is far too protected and babied to fight Winky Wright. Hey ***got, Winky Wright has been fighting pro since 1990. Abraham started his pro career in 2003. You should take that into consideration before you compare the two and insult him. You really are a biased idiot. Get the fuck out of this forum.

I disagree, Abraham is a tough fighter, and to be fair he has probably proven himself just as much as Wright has at 160. Wright has beaten: Trinidad - Solid win over a past his prime Tito Solimon - Journeyman fighter who gave Winky a good fight Quartey - Blown up Welterweight who had no business at 160 Taylor - The Middleweight Champ of the world who some believe lost four of his last five fights. (I had Wright beating him and this is a great win over a p4p fighter, but I also had Spinks beating Taylor 8-4) Its impressive, but its nothing spectacular... Hahaha! You fool, that is a much better resume than Abraham's, even given the relatively short campaign!

wright by boring KO

I would take that fight in a heartbeat. It needs to happen so there's only one faux European middleweight champion. Then whoever wins can come to the US and challenge for the real title...but if the Taylor-Pavlik winner leaves the division, then there is no real champion. Pavlik may stay to take on someone like Abraham, that would be a fantastic fight. I don't think Sturm can beat Abraham, but I'd like to see that fight as well. If Abraham-Winky can't get made, then Abraham-Sturm is the second best option. Strum is abit underrated he has the style to beat winky by pot-shoting him and moving him around after all winky is just a Super WW . As for Pavlik he is very beatable same way

Abraham and his team have seemed content with the bums he has been defending his title against and the IBF has been in no hurry to mandate a legitimate challenger since Miranda (who i suspect they didnt even consider legitimate at the time). Arthur Abraham is far too protected and babied to fight Winky Wright. I haven't seen the full Miranda fight, but he took him on when he was undefeated and fresh off a good win against Eastman. Thats not exactly being protected. Wright would dominate IMO. But its a good win for him and it gets him a title. I disagree, Abraham is a tough fighter, and to be fair he has probably proven himself just as much as Wright has at 160. Wright has beaten: Trinidad - Solid win over a past his prime Tito Solimon - Journeyman fighter who gave Winky a good fight Quartey - Blown up Welterweight who had no business at 160 Taylor - The Middleweight Champ of the world who some believe lost four of his last five fights. (I had Wright beating him and this is a great win over a p4p fighter, but I also had Spinks beating Taylor 8-4) Its impressive, but its nothing spectacular...

it easier to make the Strum fight in Germany then the Winky fight in Amercia I would take that fight in a heartbeat. It needs to happen so there's only one faux European middleweight champion. Then whoever wins can come to the US and challenge for the real title...but if the Taylor-Pavlik winner leaves the division, then there is no real champion. Pavlik may stay to take on someone like Abraham, that would be a fantastic fight. I don't think Sturm can beat Abraham, but I'd like to see that fight as well. If Abraham-Winky can't get made, then Abraham-Sturm is the second best option.

it easier to make the Strum fight in Germany then the Winky fight in Amercia

I agree, I've been thinking about this for a while actually. I think its an even fight that would be very exciting. Both guys are fairly similar. They both like to keep their hands up and block punches, and they both throw a lot of punches. The difference is Abraham has good power, and Winky has a better jab. I like this fight a lot and hope it goes down.

Wright would dominate IMO. But its a good win for him and it gets him a title.

Abraham and his team have seemed content with the bums he has been defending his title against and the IBF has been in no hurry to mandate a legitimate challenger since Miranda (who i suspect they didnt even consider legitimate at the time). Arthur Abraham is far too protected and babied to fight Winky Wright.