Tweet
Wright Dismisses Reports He Fired Shaw
Skip directly to the full story.
By ANWAR S. RICHARDSON arichardson@tampatrib.com
Published: Feb 7, 2006
TAMPA - It seemed St. Petersburg middleweight Winky Wright went off the deep end when it was reported he fired his promoter, advisor, nixed a fight against Jermain Taylor, plus rumors that spread he was almost killed over the weekend during the filming of a Busta Ryhmes rap video last Saturday.
Wright says everything reported was wrong. One publication said that Wright fired his promoter and advisor, two acts he disputed with annoyance. Wright, who is recognized as one of the best boxers in the sport, had previously worked with promoter Gary Shaw. After Shaw promoted Wright's fight against Tito Trinidad last year, the fighter later formed Winky Promotions. At that point, Wright informed Shaw they would work on a fight-by-fight basis, but as co-promoters.
They co-promoted Wright's 12-round unanimous decision against Sam Soliman two months ago, but after recently reviewing an unfavorable contract to fight Jermain Taylor, Wright decided Winky Promotions should work without Shaw's help.
"I can't fire people who don't work for me. Gary Shaw didn't work for me. We worked on a fight-by-fight basis as I established Winky Promotions. People are trying to paint a bad picture of me, but all I'm trying to do is show my business mind, establish my business and create a life for me outside of boxing. What's wrong with that?" Wright said. "I'm trying to get Winky Promotions running and want it to be seen as a viable promotional company. I couldn't do that because people kept thinking everything was a Gary Shaw Productions.
"If it wasn't for Gary Shaw, I wouldn't be where I am today. He is the promoter he gave me a chance to fight Sugar Shane Mosley. He gave me my opportunity. Right now, I'm just trying to establish my business."
That business will be with the help of Jim Wilkes, his longtime advisor and friend. It was reported Wright fired Wilkes, who was never paid and gave his advice as a friend, but that issue also appears to be false.
"Jim Wilkes is a like a father to me. He's a good friend. We have fun together, we golf together and we hang out. In fact, I just got off the phone with him and our relationship hasn't changed. He advised me, but I never paid him to be my advisor," Wright said. "He looks over me as a friend and will always do that. For people to say he will not just is not true."
The last inaccuracy Wright cleared up were his whereabouts when 29-year old Israel Ramirez, who was in charge of handling Rhymes' ***elry, was shot dead while on the Brooklyn video set. Wright and Trinidad made guest appearances in the video earlier on Saturday, but the fighter said he was back in his St. Petersburg home when the evening murder occurred.
NEXT FOR WINKY: Wright said negotiations between him and Jermain Taylor failed because he was being offered less money.
He is looking into a joint venture with Golden Boy Promotions for his next fight. Wright said he expects to fight in late May, or early June, with Golden Boy Promotions as the co-promoter, but would look elsewhere if a deal is not struck.
"I don't need Jermain Taylor. He needs me. I'm always the one have to take the least amount of money. Why do I always have to be the one to take less money to make a fight? From now on, everyone else will have to take less," Wright said. "I'm not signing anything right now. I have a lot of fans behind me and many people are glad to see me doing my own thing."
Skip directly to the full story.
By ANWAR S. RICHARDSON arichardson@tampatrib.com
Published: Feb 7, 2006
TAMPA - It seemed St. Petersburg middleweight Winky Wright went off the deep end when it was reported he fired his promoter, advisor, nixed a fight against Jermain Taylor, plus rumors that spread he was almost killed over the weekend during the filming of a Busta Ryhmes rap video last Saturday.
Wright says everything reported was wrong. One publication said that Wright fired his promoter and advisor, two acts he disputed with annoyance. Wright, who is recognized as one of the best boxers in the sport, had previously worked with promoter Gary Shaw. After Shaw promoted Wright's fight against Tito Trinidad last year, the fighter later formed Winky Promotions. At that point, Wright informed Shaw they would work on a fight-by-fight basis, but as co-promoters.
They co-promoted Wright's 12-round unanimous decision against Sam Soliman two months ago, but after recently reviewing an unfavorable contract to fight Jermain Taylor, Wright decided Winky Promotions should work without Shaw's help.
"I can't fire people who don't work for me. Gary Shaw didn't work for me. We worked on a fight-by-fight basis as I established Winky Promotions. People are trying to paint a bad picture of me, but all I'm trying to do is show my business mind, establish my business and create a life for me outside of boxing. What's wrong with that?" Wright said. "I'm trying to get Winky Promotions running and want it to be seen as a viable promotional company. I couldn't do that because people kept thinking everything was a Gary Shaw Productions.
"If it wasn't for Gary Shaw, I wouldn't be where I am today. He is the promoter he gave me a chance to fight Sugar Shane Mosley. He gave me my opportunity. Right now, I'm just trying to establish my business."
That business will be with the help of Jim Wilkes, his longtime advisor and friend. It was reported Wright fired Wilkes, who was never paid and gave his advice as a friend, but that issue also appears to be false.
"Jim Wilkes is a like a father to me. He's a good friend. We have fun together, we golf together and we hang out. In fact, I just got off the phone with him and our relationship hasn't changed. He advised me, but I never paid him to be my advisor," Wright said. "He looks over me as a friend and will always do that. For people to say he will not just is not true."
The last inaccuracy Wright cleared up were his whereabouts when 29-year old Israel Ramirez, who was in charge of handling Rhymes' ***elry, was shot dead while on the Brooklyn video set. Wright and Trinidad made guest appearances in the video earlier on Saturday, but the fighter said he was back in his St. Petersburg home when the evening murder occurred.
NEXT FOR WINKY: Wright said negotiations between him and Jermain Taylor failed because he was being offered less money.
He is looking into a joint venture with Golden Boy Promotions for his next fight. Wright said he expects to fight in late May, or early June, with Golden Boy Promotions as the co-promoter, but would look elsewhere if a deal is not struck.
"I don't need Jermain Taylor. He needs me. I'm always the one have to take the least amount of money. Why do I always have to be the one to take less money to make a fight? From now on, everyone else will have to take less," Wright said. "I'm not signing anything right now. I have a lot of fans behind me and many people are glad to see me doing my own thing."
Comment