You don't hear much about him, but he does have som really good wins. A boring fighter or unfairly forgotten or both?
He is definitely underrated and a guy that slowly developed his greatness. He was more of a cutie/mover when he started his career but after training with Ike Quartey and seeing how effective Ike was with the high guard and strong jab, he started fighting in that manner. Lots of folks don't realize this but Winky is naturally right handed which is the main reason why his southpaw jab was so heavy. Once he committed to that high guard/walking forward style he was able to break the rhythm of speed fighters like Mosley and bangers like Tito with that jab. Watch some of his early fights and you will see how much he changed his style. Lots of lateral movement and speedy flicking jabs and combos early in his career vs. His high guard, hard jab and pressure that he committed later on.
I remember when he was active he was extremely well rated, possibly even a but overrated.... But as history would have it, I think hes right where he belongs with some great wins.. I give him credit for changing up his style later in life and at the higher weights to be more of a slugger. His main drawback I think was that when he was in his hey day, he didn't generate the type of excitement you'd expect from a bona fide jr middle. But his resume is there. He also beat bronco mcart a number of times
I always liked Winky. I watched dozens of his fights as they occurred. He was a very solid fighter. But, he certainly isn't underrated. He was a fighter who had his hands full with Bronco McCart for Christ's sake and still got elected into the IBHOF. If anything, he is a little overrated.
He seems fairly rated to me overall. I don't think he's out here eating donuts and drinking hot dog water, breaking his wife's hip, going around, like, whatever, but you come on up, step to me, cash me outside, come up, footwork economical, didn't have a right hand anymore, guy wasn't in his prime, but fought his fight, PED's suspicion, was probably struggling with a good jab, should've gotten the decision with but didn't fight another guy held titles, should've gotten the decision against, had trouble making weight, had no business at the weight and then you have to say when Cus died, he was never the same.
I find him a little overrated to be honest. Signature wins were perfect timing in that Mosley was in a mid career funk, losing twice in dominant fashion to Forrest, then looking poor against Raul Marquez and a very lucky win over a fading De La Hoya. Arguably, Mosley hadn’t won in four and inarguably was nowhere near the same force at 154. Then the Tito fight. Tito out of retirement around 4/5 years past his prime. Tito was no longer the offensive juggernaut punching for openings, he was a semi-retired past prime fighter waiting for openings. HUGE difference. Quartey win? Meh. Ike was so far gone. His other signature wins? Bronco McKart? One of the fights being mighty difficult. Then the losses and draw. Ok, he was young for Vasquez, I’ll give him a pass. I thought Harry Simon clearly beat him. Vargas, I felt was a fair decision, though I can see why some say Winky won, but it was a legit either way type match. Vargas was very inexperienced at that point and looked a vastly superior fighter in his next three fights, even the brutal loss to Trinidad. Taylor? Again, close enough for them to make it a draw, though I think Winky edged it. But again proof that a fighter at his natural weight and in his prime was a tall order for him and Taylor is no great. He arguably lost to Cory Spinks not long after this. Hopkins was probably too high in weight for Winky, but if we are going to praise the Mosley wins, then we gotta take this in and he was dominated and Hopkins was years passed his best. Williams? Again, if we are gonna praise for the Tito win, then we gotta measure this loss and it was a dominant loss to a fighter who’s style likely always gives Winky hell. A talented fighter and a nice guy but very much right place right time for me. I don’t believe he should have made the hall of fame.
Agreed! Imagine if Winky had power to go with his skills. Different story. Very solid. He reminds me of Marlon Starling when it comes to the HOF debate.
Considering the insane fanfare Burley gets, yes. The dude was a GREAT fighter. People just didn't like his style.
