Sunday, May 29, 2005
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Wright: Blowout victory costly

Win vs. Trinidad making it hard to find opponent

By KEVIN IOLE
REVIEW-JOURNAL

Winky Wright celebrates after his victory against Felix Trinidad after their middleweight fight on May 14 at the MGM Grand. Photo by John Locher.

Here's a news flash to those who witnessed Winky Wright's domination of Felix Trinidad in their middleweight bout on May 14: Wright admits he screwed up.

Wright, who won a total of 34 of a possible 36 rounds on the cards of judges Jerry Roth, Duane Ford and Dave Moretti, might find it hard to get another marquee opponent after he so thoroughly thrashed Trinidad.

"I feel like maybe I messed up by beating him so bad," Wright said.

The most logical opponent for Wright is undisputed middleweight champion Bernard Hopkins, who faces Jermain Taylor on July 16 at the MGM Grand. Wright is the No. 1 contender for the WBC title Hopkins holds.

But Hopkins has made noises about skipping Wright and moving up to fight at light heavyweight. Oscar De La Hoya, whom Wright chased unsuccessfully for years, has indicated he'll fight at no more than 150 pounds when -- or if -- he fights again.

Trinidad announced his retirement the day after his thrashing by Wright, though even if he changes his mind and fights on, there would be precious few who would pay to see him against Wright again. And while IBF junior middleweight champion Kassim Ouma is beginning to get attention, he's hardly the high-profile name Wright is seeking.

Still, Wright makes no apologies for his performance against Trinidad.

"I wouldn't change it," Wright said. "I feel that is what I needed to do. I dominated him and if that's a problem, so be it. Whatever happens, happens."

But what Wright wants to make next is money. At 33, he's no longer interested in challenges or championships. He's after cold, hard cash.

He said he'll fight whatever fighter he has to in either the junior middleweight, middleweight or super middleweight divisions in order to make the most money.

"I don't care if it's the delivery guy or who ever, it's time for me to be paid," Wright said.

• LEFT HOOK LACY -- In his effort to get the largest payday he can, Wright mentioned WBO super middleweight champion Joe Calzaghe as a possible opponent.

The only problem with that scenario is that Wright's close friend, IBF super middleweight champion Jeff Lacy, is heading toward an end-of-the-year showdown with Calzaghe.

Lacy will defend his title against Robin Reid on Aug. 6 on Showtime. If he's successful, tentative plans are to meet Calzaghe in Wales in November or December.

But if Wright gets into the picture, that could edge Lacy out. Wright, though, said he wouldn't do that and Lacy said he had complete trust in Wright.

"If it were to come to that, I believe Winky would step aside and let me fight Calzaghe because he knows how long I've wanted that," Lacy said. "No way would Winky ever do something like that to me."

Wright concurred. Calzaghe would only be an option for him if Lacy were to go in a different direction.

"I'm not going to take a thing from Jeff," Wright said. "He can fight who he wants to fight. If he wants to fight Calzaghe, that's cool. Just tell Calzaghe to forget about me and worry about him."

• SET FOR REMATCH -- Miguel Cotto holds the WBO super lightweight title and is one of the game's rising stars, but he has a score to settle with Muhammad Abdullaev. Their meeting at Madison Square Garden on June 11 won't be the first time they've swapped punches.

Abdullaev defeated Cotto in the 139-pound division in the 2000 Olympics in Sydney and went on to win the gold medal. Cotto still hasn't forgotten.

"The mountain will come down on Muhammad on June 11," Cotto said. "This isn't just about defending my title. It's about revenge. I'm going to remind him who really won our fight at the 2000 Olympics."

• NO THANKS -- Super featherweights Carlos Hernandez and Jesus Chavez have built their careers on their entertaining, brawling styles. But neither said he could imagine -- or would ever want to -- be involved in a fight like the May 7 lightweight slugfest between Diego Corrales and Jose Luis Castillo.

In a brutal back-and-forth battle, Corrales rallied after getting decked twice in the 10th to stop Castillo.

"That fight scares me," said Chavez, who fought Hernandez Saturday at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. "They inflicted so much damage upon each other. Shots like that are pretty hard for a fighter to get over, even for the best of us.

"If I was in a fight like that, I would never quit, but I hope I never have to be in that kind of a fight."

Hernandez had the same opinion.

"It was a great fight to watch as a fan, but as a fighter, I know what that's doing to them," he said. "You leave a part of yourself in there. I don't want anything like that if I can help it."

• BRING IT ON -- Ricky Hatton has made himself into one of the top 140-pound contenders with his aggressive, brawling style. He'll fight world champion Kostya Tszyu on June 4 in his hometown of Manchester, England, and will take the same approach.

Tszyu said it appeals to him because it allows him to use his power.

"Of course, I love it," Tszyu said. "Every time somebody is throwing the punch, there is a good chance they open up themselves. I am an accurate boxer myself and I know that every time you try to punch in flurries, you have time to leave yourself open. For me, it is all about split seconds. I do not make mistakes myself and when other people make mistakes, when they are throwing the punch, it is usually time to go. That's why I'm happy with anyone coming to me."

• NOT AGAIN -- The Nevada Athletic Commission denied an appeal from Joe Mesi to appear in front of its medical advisory board again. The board voted 4-0 earlier this month to recommend against lifting Mesi's medical suspension for brain injuries he suffered in a 2004 fight with Vassiliy Jirov.

Mesi's next step will be to appear before the board on June 9 to seek a license.