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No Duck La Hoya? Roy Jones, Jr. Ready to Promote Wright-Vargas II
"FERNANDO, OPERATORS ARE STANDING BY.
WINKY WILL GIVE YOU THE NEXT SHOT AT HIS TITLE."
- Roy Jones, Jr., Promoter for Winky Wright
25.09 - Former world champion Fernando Vargas, last week, in his first media meeting since losing his WBA super welterweight title to WBC champion Oscar De La Hoya last Saturday, stated he would be back and that he only wanted to fight for "real world titles."
"That works for us," said undisputed world light-heavyweight champion and IBF jr. middleweight champion WINKY WRIGHT'S promoter, ROY JONES, JR. "Throughout the entire ˜Bad Blood' promotion, Vargas was a gentleman. He repeatedly said he would give Winky the next fight if he won, to unify the title with the winner becoming the undisputed champion. Oscar has decided to duck Winky. Oscar has decided to walk away from a chance to unify the title and become an undisputed champion. Oscar has decided to kiss greatness goodbye.
"Fernando proved he belonged with the elite of the division. By most accounts he was either even with or just one round behind De La Hoya going into the 11th round. Fernando, a two-time world champion, is still the top contender in the division and Wright-Vargas rumble would be a helluva fight for the fans. Therefore we will accept Fernando's challenge. Winky has been waiting for a rematch with Vargas for nearly three years. I cannot wait to promote it."
Wright lost a controversial majority decision to Vargas in 1999 when they fought for Vargas' IBF jr. middleweight title. In that fight, Wright continually backed up Vargas throughout the fight, landing the sharper punches. In the ninth round, Wright knocked Vargas' mouthpiece out with a vicious left. The vast majority of media and fans in attendance thought Wright was the clear winner of the fight.
Wright, 44-3 (25 KOs), a former WBO jr. middleweight champion, captured the IBF 154-pound title, which Felix Trinidad vacated instead of facing Wright in a mandatory defense, by winning a lopsided decision over Robert Frazier last year. He has twice successfully defended the title -- in February, stopping Jason Papillion in the fifth round, and on September 7, beating Bronco McKart, in eight rounds, in a fight that was televised nationally on HBO.
Oscar: The Wright Path Leads To Winky
By Ed Ludwig
 23.09 - A week after Oscar De La Hoya's triumphant victory over Fernando Vargas the talk has been who's next? Common sense would suggest that the champ would try to unify the Jr. Middleweight division and challenge Winky Wright. Instead we are hearing Bob Arum saying that Wright is not a household name and the fight wouldn't sell.
Arum's comments lead me to believe that he is afraid the IBF champ is a serious threat to his cash cow or he would like to see De La Hoya avenge his loss against Shane Mosley and possibly avoid the tough southpaw all together. Saying the Wright fight would not sell is a bunch of bull in my opinion. It is the hardcore fans like myself that give these guys their big paycheques.
De La Hoya has been on the golden trail from day one whereas Wright has fought all over the world to make himself known and earn the respect he so richly deserves. I can understand why the "Golden Boy" would want to avenge his loss but a fight with Wright would be the smart move and should he get past him a rematch with Mosley would be for all the marbles and a truck load of money.
With the win over Vargas last week he has revived his rather stagnant career and to keep the momentum rolling, a unification bout with Wright makes sense. In his post fight interview the talk was about Shane Mosley and Felix Trinidad and possibly Wright. Trinidad has retired although I believe he is on hiatus, Mosley has suffered back too back losses and he needs to regroup against some lesser opposition at 154 and then the most logical choice left for De La Hoya is Winky Wright.
Shane Mosley has jumped from Lightweight to Jr. Middleweight in a very short time compared to De La Hoya so a fight with him now is not the best move. Mosley is still a huge draw but I have my doubts as to whether or not he can compete with the elite at 154. Wright has remained very patient as he awaits his shot for a mega fight. Both De La Hoya and Wright are on top of their game so this fight needs to be made sooner than later.
If Felix Trinidad can get another crack at Bernard Hopkins then there is no doubt that he will be back. His father took a shot at De La Hoya a few days ago when he said Oscar is only calling out a "Shot" Shane Mosley. Mosley is far from shot and he did not retire when things didn't go his way. Trinidad should think about a rematch because he can prove that the first fight was not a fluke. The majority of people had De La Hoya beating Trinidad and I scored it a draw. Either way Oscar wanting Trinidad and Mosley makes sense after a fight with the man who holds one third of the title.
Winky Wright, a seasoned veteran is now on the outside looking in. De La Hoya has had all the breaks and he has earned them but a lot of it is due to Bob Arum and Top Rank. De La Hoya has had many big fights and he was handed the opportunities on a silver platter and for Wright he is on the threshold of stardom but he needs the opportunity to make his statement. Should this unification match not happen then it is the fans that get robbed once again.
The so-called "Glory Boys" have been given all the breaks, connections, fat juicy contracts etc. When a lesser-known fighter gets his shot like Wright did with Fernando Vargas and gets robbed in the process it leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Fighters that don't have the big promoter or television contract deserve every opportunity that Oscar, Felix and Shane get. Not only would this be a great fight, it would be beneficial for De La Hoya and Wright.
A win for De La Hoya would ensure his place in the Hall Of Fame and for Wright he will get the respect and payday that has eluded him for many years. Regardless of who comes out on top should they ever meet the bottom line is that it is a win-win situation for both. Promoters only worry about the all mighty dollar and that is understandable. Give the fans what they want and Bob Arum, Don King and Cedric Kushner etc can laugh all the way to the bank.
Oscar De La Hoya vs. Winky Wright has to be made. In terms of significance and excitement of an undisputed title fight there is nothing out there that can top this. I wonder sometimes if the Pernell Whitaker fight haunts De La Hoya as the southpaw gave him fits. Wright is not at the same calibre of the once great Whitaker but he has fought at the same weight for many years and he is active and very polished. C'mon Oscar, lets get ready to rumble!
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