By Robert Jackson: 2 days and counting before Winky Wright returns to the ring, it’s been 21 months since Wright has graced the squared ring. In that time Paul Williams has fought 4 times losing once and getting in 22 rounds of work. Paul Williams lone blemish on his fight resume, leaves an opening for the much more experienced Winky to have more than a chance of toppling the giant. For this matchup Winky returns to the Mandalay Bay Casino where his bout against Bernard Hopkins was fought, where he suffered a 12 round defeat in a 170lb catch-weight fight. This fight will be fought at Winky’s more natural fighting weight of 160lbs. Working against Wright are several factors, including 21 months of inactivity, no southpaw adavantage, and a freakishly tall, long reaching, very active opponent who is a very good boxer. Working in Winky’s favor are his boxing mind, solid shell defense and veteran craftyness..
Styles make fights so let’s look at the styles of both men to see if either man has an advantage. Williams who’s listed height is 6’1″ is closer to 6’4″, has a 82″ reach, and for a man so tall Williams has the uncanny ability to in-fight, shifting his body to odd angles offering an awkward target to his opponents. Williams also has a solid chin and deceptive punching power, Williams wears down his opponents with a barrage of punches rather than one punch KO power. Fighting between 147lbs and 160lbs Williams actually looks stronger at the higher weight classes, but it isn’t known how fluctuating in weight like this affects his body. Southpaw Carlos Quintana was able to outmaneuver Paul Williams in their first fight but paid for it in the rematch. Winky always brings the same skillset to the ring, a stinging right jab, shell defense and a slickness that trips up his opponents. Wright’s best days were at 154lbs with only 5 fights since 2005 at the 160lb limit. Winky’s success at 160 for some is questionable, many feel Sam Soliman deserved the victory, and think against Jermain Taylor Winky blew the fight by not fighting in the 12th round. Winky has picked a very unique fighter as his opponent for his comeback fight. Most of the advantages seem to point to Paul Williams.
The fighters who wants it more will win and the loser if it’s Wright may be at the end of a his career. Following Wright’s career through the ups and downs, he has mostly been able to win the big one when he needed to. Until recently Winky’s had a better than average chance of beating the odds but those days are behind him and in front of him is an opponent that may be more feared than he was. Williams will put on a dominant, devastating performance, with Winky retiring on his stool in the later rounds of the fight.