BoxRec

Taylor is now in his prime at 25-0 with 2 title fights under his belt, but its still too close to call for me.

Riddick Blowe wrote:What the frig is going on here? Oddschecker has nearly all bookies putting Wright as slight favourite in this one...

Am I missing something?

not really...i heard taylor was favored last week & i think odds are fluctuating, probably much like the close, competitive fight everyone expects!! taylor by close but clearcut decision!!

A couple of points, first of all i don't see the problem with Wright-Vargas, it was a tight fight but i don't dispute the winner i thought Vargas edged it. Secondly i back Wright to beat Taylor on points, i just feel Wright's jab and defence will demoralise Taylor who will have his best moments early on IMO. Wright beat a shell of Trinidad and a blown up Mosley twice but even though both were past their best they were world class fighters and he dealt with them with consumate ease. And i thought considering he had a cold Wright dealt with a relentless and extremely unorthodox Soliman pretty well.

liamlion wrote:

jamesmcdonnell wrote:

liamlion wrote:Winky Wright will absolutely school Taylor. Wright has the most accurate, unrelenting and demoralising jab in boxing in addition to a super-tight defence. I cant see Taylor dealing with Wright. Ronald Wright has a pretty unique, and ultra-effective, fighting style.

If it is ultra effective, what about the Vargas...

Watch the fight! That decision was a robbery, Vargas was properly beat-up in that fight, and his face showed it at the end. Wright might have lost the decision but I can assure you he was not second best that night.

That decision was more about the huge influence that big TV stations and Promoters in America (with a vested interest in one of the fighters only) have over the judges, scoring the fight (De la Hoya v Felix Sturm is another example).

jamesmcdonnell wrote: Most of Winky's career has been against B grade opposition, his best win at Middleweight is against Soliman, Tito wasn't the same fighter who looked invincible before Nard chewed him up.

What as oppossed to the well-proven Taylor?? Whose most notable victories have been two controversial/non too convincing decisions against Hopkins. Jesus, if anyone has fought 'B grade' fighters, surely its Taylor - look at his record, not too many big names on it.

Yes, but Taylor's career is only just beginning, and despite the controversy, he did what NOBODY has done since Jones Jr all those years ago could do, take the play away from Hopkins to the extent that the judges awarded him rounds.

On paper at least, those two wins over Hopkins, controversial or not, are bigger than anything Winky has done. He was champion in a piss weak division for a long time, and deservedly gets respect for remaining a title holder, but he's yet to convince me he's the goods at 160.

Kilburn wrote:It's because of the tight defence and sharp-shooting of Winky that I find his fights relatively easy to score. Certainly in his higher profile fights when he shows his best form. Only when some maniac like Harry Simon swarms all over him does it become more difficult.

What Taylor will do remains to be seen, but I can't find a reason to give him the edge. Winky would have beaten Hopkins clearly IMO.

I gotta agree with this post from start to finish.

I love watching Wright fight, he's easily my favourite at the moment. I hope and believe he'll get a UD.

Although Wright is good at what he does, I find him pretty frustrating to watch.

People talk about him as some sort of technical genius, but for that you want to Watch Toney at work, when in shape, can fight coming forward or back, and punishes people when he makes them miss.

The apogee of this type of fighter for me was Mike McCallum, the guy had absolutely everything except speed, but he didn't usually need it as his timing was exceptional.

Yes, the problem for Wright, is that when he is defending, he is not throwing punches at the same time, he doesn't really slip or roll under punches, he just blocks them with that clamshell guard. That gives an opportunity to someone who like Taylor has busy hands and power.

Taylor - much bigger, younger, stronger, hits harder, faster and better array of offensive punches.

Winky is a 1 trick pony - tight guard and jab, its not boxing genius and against fast combinations from a bigger stronger man it won't work and everyone will see that come Saturday

Winky beat Mosley (second 1 very close) - Mosley really lost DLH and Forrest and had no business above 140.

Winky beat Trinidad - very good win, but Trinidad was badly faded without the killer instinct he had previously and always had problems with boxers.

Myth - Winky was robbed against Vargas - it was a very close fight.

Don't think I'm coming down too hard on Winky, this is against the 160lb champ and hes proven upto 154. Taylor would have ko'd Mosley/Trinidad/Vargas

jamesmcdonnell wrote:The judges thought Winky lost to Vargas, and that's what counts. I can well see the same happening against Taylor, Taylor will pick up points for shots landing on gloves, arms, and shoulders, and Wright not doing enough consistent work of his own to convince them otherwise.

Taylor hits harder than Simon and is a naturall bigger man by some way.

he lost two majority decisions, against a) a guy in Vargas that HBO were grooming for greatness, and b) Harry Simon, national sporting hero, in South Africa. Big deal, they could have easily gone WW's way or been draws. In fact, I think the Simon fight was a draw till the scorecards got changed.

Winky has beaten Mosley & Tito convincingly. He also wrecked Dodson, who was going to be pretty big over here. Not to mention that most A fighters wanted to avoid him.


I'm going for Winky in this one. Too many ppl on these boards are impressed by speed and flash. The solid old workman - not the shoeshiner - wins this one.

Tough fight to call, Taylor is one few geniune Middle's that Wright has faced, plus for me Wright has been dissapointing in two of his last 3 fights. Yes, he certainly sounded "fluey" prior to the Soliman bout, so undoubtedly that played a part, but he is at an age now where he could slip significantly in one fight.

I think the Wright of Moseley 1 vs Taylor would see Winky box his brains off, but now I really don't know.

Unashamedly on the fence.

stujones wrote:Tough fight to call, Taylor is one few geniune Middle's that Wright has faced, plus for me Wright has been dissapointing in two of his last 3 fights. Yes, he certainly sounded "fluey" prior to the Soliman bout, so undoubtedly that played a part, but he is at an age now where he could slip significantly in one fight.

I think the Wright of Moseley 1 vs Taylor would see Winky box his brains off, but now I really don't know.

Unashamedly on the fence.

Taylor is bigger etc.but he leans forward and makes himself look smaller than he is. he could end up fighting down to winky. plus, both men have beaten mostly junior middles. whose 154-lb foes are best?

Wright - Mosley (2 x), Vargas, Simon, Dodson, McKart (3 x), Keith Mullings.

Taylor - Sam Hill (ended David Reid's career in late 90s), Alex Rios (lost to Terry Norris in '96), Raul Marquez (he had an IBF nr middle belt in 1997, got lucky vs Mullings, got KO'd by Campas).

How many years were Taylor's opponents past their primes? Winky's were still world class. Only one of Taylor's had ever been world class

Taylor to take a lead in the first six rounds, just as he did against Hopkins, and then tire late. The draw is great value here, if anybody wins, it will be close.

viciousmaussa wrote:

jamesmcdonnell wrote:The judges thought Winky lost to Vargas, and that's what counts. I can well see the same happening against Taylor, Taylor will pick up points for shots landing on gloves, arms, and shoulders, and Wright not doing enough consistent work of his own to convince them otherwise.

Taylor hits harder than Simon and is a naturall bigger man by some way.

he lost two majority decisions, against a) a guy in Vargas that HBO were grooming for greatness, and b) Harry Simon, national sporting hero, in South Africa. Big deal, they could have easily gone WW's way or been draws. In fact, I think the Simon fight was a draw till the scorecards got changed.

Winky has beaten Mosley & Tito convincingly. He also wrecked Dodson, who was going to be pretty big over here. Not to mention that most A fighters wanted to avoid him.


I'm going for Winky in this one. Too many ppl on these boards are impressed by speed and flash. The solid old workman - not the shoeshiner - wins this one.

What about the Vasquez, yes it was 12years but been beat up and kd'd 5times tells a story.

1 point most neglect to mention is Taylor has nothing to fear from Winkys shots unlike when he fought Hopkins. So he can really go on a seek and destroy mission.

Phenomenal-Nutrition wrote: What about the Vasquez, yes it was 12years but been beat up and kd'd 5times tells a story.

What story is that then? That Winky can't take a punch?

I'll be amazed if Taylor comes anywhere close to putting Wright on the canvas.

Taylor vs Micky Mouse with a Jab.

Kilburn wrote:

Phenomenal-Nutrition wrote: What about the Vasquez, yes it was 12years but been beat up and kd'd 5times tells a story.

What story is that then? That Winky can't take a punch?

I'll be amazed if Taylor comes anywhere close to putting Wright on the canvas.

That maybe he isn't an invisable P4P Great hes made out to be. Maybe he was green then but maybe not. I wouldn't be suprised if Taylor kos Winky.

Phenomenal-Nutrition wrote:1 point most neglect to mention is Taylor has nothing to fear from Winkys shots unlike when he fought Hopkins. So he can really go on a seek and destroy mission.

as I pointed out here....


http://www.maxboxing.com/coverage/Fight_picks061506.asp

Hopkins was hardly a banger.

Taylor might not have to fear being KO'd in this fight but then for me neither does Wright. Bar any freak result this is going the distance.

Phenomenal-Nutrition wrote:1 point most neglect to mention is Taylor has nothing to fear from Winkys shots unlike when he fought Hopkins. So he can really go on a seek and destroy mission.

Wright was reknown for being a huge and very strong light-middleweight. Though not a big puncher, Wright can punch with authority and I cannot see Taylor walking through Wright - no way, Jose.

Youre making out that Hopkins is some sort of banger? When in reality Hopkins is everything, but that. Im sure Taylor with have healthy respect for Winky's punch.

If Hopkins is such an ineffectual puncher, then how come people back off when he tags them?

It's noticable that Taylor hit hard enough to discourage Hopkins and keep him on the outside for most of the fight, but Hopkins took Tarvers shots and walked right through him.

Wright is a strong LM, but he doesn't sit down on his punches at all, 80% of his shots are jabs, and he almost never stands and trades or lets rip with a really spiteful shot.

Hopkins isn't "ineffectual" in the power stakes but to make out that Taylor had everything to fear against him and now has nothing to fear against Wright is just plain daft.

psychologically I think Taylor will approach this fight entirely differently, I think he had a little too much respect for Hopkins in both fights, less so in the 2nd, but still, didn't give the best of himself in either fight, but learned a lot from both.

I'm not saying he's going to walk through Winky, but I think he will be able to dominate him enough to win, and maybe hurt him late.

I think James is bang on the money.

Taylor should beat Wright come Saturday, and maybe hurt him late on. Lately Wright spends too long on defence, not enough offence. That will be his downfall.

Got to say, this is a very interesting fight, it's the kind of fight boxing needs, and credit to Taylor, he could have had some soft touch defences after the fights with Nard, but he does seem to want to prove himself.

Winky is desperate for recognition, and this is his big chance.

Thank god this fight didn't fall through as it so nearly did.