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Winky became a pretty dominant champ at 154lbs beating Mosley twice and Felix Trinidad. However once he tried to become an aggressive offensive fighter his dominance changed. Although age has played a part in Winky's diminished career I believe his change in style is what is mostly attributed to his losses during the final phase of his career.
If you recall Winky used his jab, high guard and let the other fighter take the role as the aggressor. This was his style. This is how he beat Mosley (twice), dominated Trinidad, and beat Quartey. The moment he changed styles to be more entertaining his vulnerabilities started showing up. First against Taylor, which was a great, very close fight, he took the role as the aggressor. Taylor was the one boxing and moving. Yes, this transition made for a more exciting Winky Wright and made the Taylor fight one of the best middle weight fights of the 1st decade of the 21 century, but this change in the Taylor fight only got him a draw. If he would of boxed like he normally did he might have won, even though it could of been a less exciting fight that way. Against Mosley he let Mosley come to him and used that terrific jab to control the fight. He did the same thing against Trinidad. Trinidad was the one coming forward and Winky's jab is what dominated the fight.
His fights against Hopkins, Williams and Quillen, he chose to be the aggressor and used his jab going forward. We all know that the jab is more effective when a fighter is coming to you than when you are going forward and the high guard is more effective when used by a counter puncher. His jab and high guard was tailor made for being a counter puncher. This style is what made him so good, but the moment he chose to become an aggressive fighter he started to lose rds and then lose fights.
This past Saturday's fight, again he chose to be the one going forward and he lost. Although I think he did ok considering he had not fought in so long. I don't think he got dominated and he looked good during some rds. Quillen was just to big for him and the ring rust and aggressive style he used is what ultimately caused him the match. I also don't care for the commentators putting his performance and decline in the same boat as Tarver. He looked much better than Tarver did. He threw more punches and was more competitive against a much better fighter than Tarver faced. He was in much better shape than Tarver, as you could see Tarver's huge belly, even though he was trying to cover it up with his trunks and guard. Winky looked much better than Tarver considering Tarver has fought at least 4 times in the past 4 yrs compared to Wright who has not fought anyone in 3 yrs.
I actually think if Wright fought at 154lbs and went back to his old style he could be in some interesting fights. I don't know, I just did not see an entirely shot fighter in Wright. I think the time off, his change in style, and fighting such a big strong middleweight played more in his defeat than his age. However, I know he has already announced his retirement so we will never know if he could be competitive again at 154lbs.
If you recall Winky used his jab, high guard and let the other fighter take the role as the aggressor. This was his style. This is how he beat Mosley (twice), dominated Trinidad, and beat Quartey. The moment he changed styles to be more entertaining his vulnerabilities started showing up. First against Taylor, which was a great, very close fight, he took the role as the aggressor. Taylor was the one boxing and moving. Yes, this transition made for a more exciting Winky Wright and made the Taylor fight one of the best middle weight fights of the 1st decade of the 21 century, but this change in the Taylor fight only got him a draw. If he would of boxed like he normally did he might have won, even though it could of been a less exciting fight that way. Against Mosley he let Mosley come to him and used that terrific jab to control the fight. He did the same thing against Trinidad. Trinidad was the one coming forward and Winky's jab is what dominated the fight.
His fights against Hopkins, Williams and Quillen, he chose to be the aggressor and used his jab going forward. We all know that the jab is more effective when a fighter is coming to you than when you are going forward and the high guard is more effective when used by a counter puncher. His jab and high guard was tailor made for being a counter puncher. This style is what made him so good, but the moment he chose to become an aggressive fighter he started to lose rds and then lose fights.
This past Saturday's fight, again he chose to be the one going forward and he lost. Although I think he did ok considering he had not fought in so long. I don't think he got dominated and he looked good during some rds. Quillen was just to big for him and the ring rust and aggressive style he used is what ultimately caused him the match. I also don't care for the commentators putting his performance and decline in the same boat as Tarver. He looked much better than Tarver did. He threw more punches and was more competitive against a much better fighter than Tarver faced. He was in much better shape than Tarver, as you could see Tarver's huge belly, even though he was trying to cover it up with his trunks and guard. Winky looked much better than Tarver considering Tarver has fought at least 4 times in the past 4 yrs compared to Wright who has not fought anyone in 3 yrs.
I actually think if Wright fought at 154lbs and went back to his old style he could be in some interesting fights. I don't know, I just did not see an entirely shot fighter in Wright. I think the time off, his change in style, and fighting such a big strong middleweight played more in his defeat than his age. However, I know he has already announced his retirement so we will never know if he could be competitive again at 154lbs.
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