27.10.03 – The most feared man in the 154-pound division, IBF jr. middleweight champion WINKY WRIGHT, 45-3 (25 KOs), read with great amusement, from his St. Petersburg, FL-based training camp, the excuses offered by the self-proclaimed Aztec Warrior Fernando Vargas, whom Wright has dubbed ‘The NASDAQ Warrior,’ for not accepting Wright’s numerous invitations to fight for his world title in their next fight.
“I am calling Vargas ‘The NASDAQ Warrior’ because he is under the counter…HIDING from real fights,” said Wright. “His stock has been dropping with every fight since I pasted him in 1999.”
Vargas was repeatedly asked on a recent media conference call why he was fighting journeymen and refusing a world title rematch against Wright. Vargas escaped with a disputed and highly-controversial majority decision victory in 1999.
“No one wants to see a slap fest,” said Vargas
“Translation — Fernandoid — it rhymes with steroid — does not want to get slapped around the ring by me again,“ responded Wright. “He remembers I was the one backing him up the whole fight and knocked his mouthpiece out in the ninth round. Maybe those steroids he took shrunk up his nuts to raisins and he does not have the guts to fight me.
“Fernandoid, who is world-rated No. 2, already fought a tune-up against Fitz Vanderpool. Now he needs ANOTHER tune-up against Tony Marshall?!!” continued Wright. “Hell, I beat Marshall EIGHT YEARS AGO IN HIS PRIME!!! Marshall has lost four of his last six bouts, and was knocked out in the third round of his most recent fight!”
Next on Fernandoid’s “hit charade” is a title elimination bout against Javier Castillejo.
“Who ever heard of a tune-up for an elimination bout?” asked Wright. “Real fighters fight for world title shots. That is what this game is all about. Fernandoid is not a warrior. He is a complete wreck.”
Wright, who is two years into his second reign as a world jr. middleweight champion, defends his title against NABA champion and IBF No. 6-rated contender Angel Hernandez, Saturday, November 8, in the co-main event to the Roy Jones, Jr. – Antonio Tarver light-heavyweight world championship at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, NV. Both fights will be televised live on HBO Pay-Per-View, beginning at 9 P.M. EST / 6 P.M. PST.