Winky Wright retires

Ronald “Winky” Wright has announced that his loss Saturday night to Peter Quillin will be the last time that the 40-year-old former junior-middleweight champion will be seen in the ring.

"I'm going to call this quits," said Wright on Sunday morning to the Tampa Bay Times. "If I can't be champ, I'm done. I'm not going to do this just to be fighting.

"I couldn't do what I wanted to. I could see what I wanted to do, but I couldn't pull the trigger."

Wright’s fight with Quillin was his first fight in more than three years, and only his third fight in five years — a decision loss in July 2007 to then-light heavyweight champion Bernard Hopkins, a decision loss in April 2009 to Paul Williams in a middleweight bout, and then Saturday’s clear unanimous decision defeat against Quillin, a middleweight prospect who came into the bout with a record of 26-0 (20 knockouts).

Wright last won a bout in December 2006, when he outpointed Ike Quartey, his only win in six years; prior to that, he fought to a disputed draw with then-middleweight champion Jermain Taylor in June 2006.

Wright turned pro in 1990, first fought for a world title in 1994 but lost a decision to fellow 154-pounder Julio Cesar Vasquez. He captured a belt in 1996 with a win over Bronco McKart, defended it three times and lost it in 1998 to Harry Simon, then lost another title shot in 1999 against Fernando Vargas.

Wright beat Robert Frazier in 2001 for another belt, however, defended it four times and then met Shane Mosley in a unification bout in 2004 that Wright won, earning him recognition as the division’s true champion. Wright won the rematch with Mosley later that year, too, and then went on to dominate Felix Trinidad to add another signature victory to his resume.

He fought in eight different countries, including four different continents, and was a traveler in his own country, too, getting in the ring in 10 different states. Wright retires with a record of 51-6-1 with 25 knockouts.

flapanther2001 wrote:I'm having a huge FB argument on whether or not Winky gets in the HOF.....thoughts?

Shaun wrote:Winky Wright deserves to be in the hall of fame.

I believe I heard a commentator last night say 12 of his last 17 fights were against world champions. I respect that.

He has an incredibly competitive resume with some big wins on it.

His big wins are: Ike Quartey, Felix Trinidad, Shane Mosley, and Shane Mosley (again). He should have been given the nod vs. Fernando Vargas and also should have been given the nod in his draw vs. Jermaine Taylor.

Let's not forget that he was the most ducked fighter for several years due to fighters inability to penetrate his defense.

His defeats vs. Quillin and Williams were simply age. His defeat vs. Hopkins, while legit, was an incredibly ugly/pathetic fight by Hopkins.

If fighters like Mosley and Trinidad make the HOF, than Wright should also be in it. It all comes HOF standard.

Is Wright an ATG? No.

flapanther2001 wrote:I'm having a huge FB argument on whether or not Winky gets in the HOF.....thoughts?

Ali wrote:Winky will get in he was an undisputed champion who's beaten other HOF'ers.