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By Lyle Fitzsimmons - Winky Wright has seen this movie before.
He recognizes the characters, has memorized the plot and knows precisely when to turn away as cruel fates conspire against the hero at the end.
And yet, as disappointed as he’s been at each viewing, he’s plunking down the cash for yet another ticket.
“I’m counting on the fans this time,” Wright told BoxingScene.com. “I know they’ll back me. I know they watch the fights. And if things don’t go the way they’re supposed to again, they’ll still be smart enough to know what really happened.”
The sport’s reigning 37-year-old poster boy for big-screen drama gone bad, Wright takes another stab at stardom when he faces up-and-coming multi-division phenom Paul Williams in a 160-pound bout on April 11 at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.
Now 51-4-1 over an 18-plus year career, Wright remains frustrated – but undeterred – by what he perceives as injustice thrust upon him in several fights against more celebrated colleagues on boxing’s walk of fame.
Act One, a majority decision loss to WBO junior middleweight challenger Harry Simon on the then-unbeaten Simon’s home turf in South Africa.
Act Two, a majority decision loss to IBF junior middleweight champion Fernando Vargas in the then-unbeaten Californian’s third title defense.
Act Three, a hotly contested draw against WBC/WBO middleweight champion Jermain Taylor in which the then-unbeaten former Olympian faded badly late. [details]
He recognizes the characters, has memorized the plot and knows precisely when to turn away as cruel fates conspire against the hero at the end.
And yet, as disappointed as he’s been at each viewing, he’s plunking down the cash for yet another ticket.
“I’m counting on the fans this time,” Wright told BoxingScene.com. “I know they’ll back me. I know they watch the fights. And if things don’t go the way they’re supposed to again, they’ll still be smart enough to know what really happened.”
The sport’s reigning 37-year-old poster boy for big-screen drama gone bad, Wright takes another stab at stardom when he faces up-and-coming multi-division phenom Paul Williams in a 160-pound bout on April 11 at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.
Now 51-4-1 over an 18-plus year career, Wright remains frustrated – but undeterred – by what he perceives as injustice thrust upon him in several fights against more celebrated colleagues on boxing’s walk of fame.
Act One, a majority decision loss to WBO junior middleweight challenger Harry Simon on the then-unbeaten Simon’s home turf in South Africa.
Act Two, a majority decision loss to IBF junior middleweight champion Fernando Vargas in the then-unbeaten Californian’s third title defense.
Act Three, a hotly contested draw against WBC/WBO middleweight champion Jermain Taylor in which the then-unbeaten former Olympian faded badly late. [details]
I agree, homie.
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