So, Ronald Wright was supposed to make his long-awaited return to the ring on April 9th against Matthew Macklin as part of the Morales-Maidana PPV. That got scuttled due to a hand injury sustained by Winky during training. His layoff has therefore crept past the two-year mark. Now Macklin has a date in June with kinda-sorta WBA champ Felix Sturm (a long rumored Winky opponent). Is the comeback still on? :huh Does anyone know the status of the injury, and whether training is scheduled to resume once it's healed? Is Winky actively looking for an opponent? If he still looks sharp, maybe 1-2 more ten-rounders to shake the rust (and earn an actual ranking) could set him up for a title shot with the winner of Macklin-Sturm. That would settle some unfinished business either way.
He's rumored to fight on HBO against Martinez in September. That's when HBO is bringing back Martinez, I believe, and HBO wants a "name" opponent. It's all hear say, but that's what I've heard.
Wow. Wright was first mentioned as an opponent for Martinez about a year ago, as a first title defense right after it changed hands. Of course instead we got the infamous Williams catchweight rematch. I don't remember exactly why Martinez-Wright didn't happen.. Winky seems to have ongoing unresolved sagas with pretty much everyone in his weight range.
He decided to stay retired, you mean? Since the Macklin fight didn't actually come off he never really un-retired. Although...come to think of it, he never did officially retire...(just sort of fell off the boxing map by default) Personally, I see any of the 4 belts as being attainable (so long as he's able to perform up to the level of the Williams loss). The actual middleweight champion is a step too far - but the titlists? WBC - Chavez-Zbik winner IBF - Sylvester-Geale winner WBA - Sturm (kinda sorta) WBO - Pirog Out of those six names, there isn't one that a 2009-ish Winky definitely couldn't beat.
I agree. Pirog is a good, solid pro but I'm not sure he won't mature and get better. Winky stands a good chance at this point anyway. Faded but he's been around a block Pirog hasn't, and numerous times. I think Pirog and Sturm right now are tossups and pretty interesting ones at that. The first two, winners of Chavez/Zbik and Sylvester/Geale are more I favor Winky but wouldn't be particularly interested regardless.
I would like to see him face Sturm. Havent seen sturm in years but we will have to see. I hope he doesnt face martinez, though it would be a nice check for him, it will be lame seeing him loose badly to someone he would have beaten a few years ago
Given the fact that he has fought one time in the last say 4 years I'd say his days are over now that he's pushing 40, retire I say. He got convincingly beat by Williams and Hopkins in his last 2 fights anyways. That goes back to 2007. I'm not even sure he could make middleweight anymore, this guy balloons up pretty good in between fights and has been off way too long. RETIRE