Monday, March 15, 2004
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Wright wants Trinidad, but other fighters await

By KEVIN IOLE
REVIEW-JOURNAL

Newly crowned undisputed 154-pound champion Winky Wright, right, said he would like to fight former champion Felix Trinidad. But first, Wright is obligated to give Shane Mosley, left, a rematch and fight mandatory challenger Kassim Ouma. Photo by K.M. Cannon.

Although he hasn't fought in almost two years, Felix Trinidad was on the minds of a lot of important boxing people Saturday.

Winky Wright was still thinking about the former champion Sunday, a day after winning a unanimous decision over Shane Mosley at Mandalay Bay to become the 154-pound division's first undisputed champion in 29 years.

Trinidad plans to end his retirement and had an agreement to fight Mosley in late fall if he won Saturday. But, after scuttling that idea, Wright said he would be more than happy to fill in for Mosley.

"Give me Trinidad," Wright proclaimed. "I said I wanted to fight all the best fighters of my era and I meant it. He's next."

Perhaps. But Wright's contract with Mosley included an immediate-rematch clause, which Mosley said he intends to exercise. Also, the IBF ruled before Saturday's fight that the winner would be stripped of the belt if he didn't defend it against mandatory challenger Kassim Ouma.

When Wright arrived at the post-fight news conference, he embraced Mosley and told him he would grant a rematch because Mosley had given him a shot initially. Wright then turned toward the assembled media and said, "And now, guys, show me the money."

Wright also told Ouma he would get his turn and said there is nothing contradictory about wanting to fight Trinidad, Mosley and Ouma.

"Kassim Ouma deserves a shot at the title, and I'll give it to him," said Wright, who got $750,000 for his win Saturday and has designs on seven-figure paydays. "I just told him to let me make my money first."

Trinidad promoter Don King was noncommittal about whether he would match his fighter against Wright. Trinidad last fought at middleweight (160 pounds), and King seemed more inclined to have him face former welterweight champion Ricardo Mayorga before fighting Wright.

Trinidad sat at ringside Saturday and showed his admiration for Wright, pointing to him after the 11th round and giving a thumbs up.

"I always have had a lot of respect for Winky Wright, and he showed you he has great skills," Trinidad said. "If Don King thinks that's the fight, of course I would love to fight him."

Most likely, though, Wright will give Mosley a rematch first.

Wright used his jab to control Mosley and blunt his blazing speed, much the way Vernon Forrest did when he defeated Mosley twice.

But Mosley insisted something was physically wrong with him, even though he competed fiercely and didn't seem hurt.

"Winky's a difficult type of fighter (because) he leans back a bit, but for some reason, I think it was more myself," said Mosley, who is 39-3 but just 1-3 with a no-contest in his last five fights. "I couldn't get off like I wanted to and I felt a little dehydrated in there. I guess about the fourth or fifth round, I felt like I couldn't move. ... I felt like I had nothing left. I threw (some punches) trying to maybe catch him with a good shot and get him out of there."

Mosley was a 3-1 favorite and the overwhelming pick in prefight media polls, but Wright never wavered in his belief that he would win. He said he knew early that the fight would go his way.

"Definitely, my jab was a big factor, but I was also physically stronger," said Wright, who has fought his entire professional career at 154, whereas Mosley began as a lightweight. "He's a strong dude, but his punches had nothing on them. He's been built up as a big puncher and he has a little pop, but it's not what people think.

"I just knew after the second round that that man couldn't beat me. I took my time and picked him apart. And now, I've earned it and I want all those big boys like Trinidad and (undisputed middleweight champion) Bernard Hopkins to come on and sign on the dotted line."