Talk about a tune-up, couldn't he have at least come up with a somewhat recognizable name?:huh Wright's year-plus layoff from ring will end Dec. 4 By Dan Rafael ESPN.com Winky Wright is finally getting back to work. The former undisputed junior middleweight champion and top middleweight contender, idle since losing a decision to Bernard Hopkins in a 170-pound catch-weight fight in July 2007, said Wednesday he will return to action Dec. 4 to headline a Versus-televised card. Winky Wright Wright Several sources from Golden Boy Promotions, which works closely with Wright and will promote the card, told ESPN.com they are finalizing the television deal with Versus and a site for the fight, which likely will be in Washington state. Wright (51-4-1, 25 KOs), a top 10-ranked pound-for-pound fighter for the past several years until his long layoff, likely will face Michi Munoz (21-2, 14 KOs), who won his last fight but was soundly beaten in three rounds by junior middleweight prospect Vanes Martirosyan in February. "I'm on board," Wright said. "It's time to get back in there." Wright said he would fight at approximately 165 pounds and eventually return to the 160-pound middleweight division, where he hopes to challenge for a title. The fight is designed for Wright to shake off the rust of the layoff. A win will propel him into a bigger fight on HBO, which is committed to putting him on a card in February or March. "I just need to get back in the mix," said Wright, who has agreed to fight for relatively short money after turning down several seven-figure fights the past couple of years. "I just need to get back in shape, get in the ring and fight somebody and show people that I can still do this, and then move on." The Dec. 4 date is key for Versus, which is making a big push in boxing. On the same night as Wright's fight, the fourth season of boxing reality series, "The Contender," is scheduled to premiere. Wright, who has two wins against Shane Mosley and also has beaten prominent opponents such as Felix Trinidad and Ike Quartey, said he realizes the only way to get the bigger fights he wants -- such as a possible match with middleweight titlist Arthur Abraham -- is to be active. "We're going to do this fight on the Versus network, get a fight in, come out looking good and then in February or March get back on HBO," he said. "I know this fight isn't paying much money, but this isn't about money this time. I just want to get back out there. I'll take the pay cut just to get back in the mix."
My thoughts exactly!! He could've fought on ESPN or something before it went on break and got a better fight than this.
Basically Wright doesn't anything to do with the top contenders from 160-168. All this talk of challenging for a title is bs.
cut the guy a break he's being smart cause he realizes a tune up is necessary due to his inactivity and he himself admitted he first needs to get back in shape. can't blame the guy for being smart this way he'll lose some ring rust and be back in with a top dog in early '09 rather then taking on a top dog with over a year of ring rust and taking half the fight to get his timing back. this is exactly what he needs to do. disapointed tune up opponent though...he shoulda picked someone with a more recognizable name.
if he was really smart he should have fought a long time ago..wht the long lay-off anyway? was he injured after the b-hop fight???
"said he realizes the only way to get the bigger fights he wants -- such as a possible match with middleweight titlist Arthur Abraham -- is to be active." Jesus ****ing christ, it took him ten years to figure that the **** out? ****ing ridiculous.
Its about friggin time. Smart move to take a tune-up, and at 165 no less. Just to think, there was a thread on here not to long ago saying Winky could not only make 154 right now, but also beat Margarito at 154. Sounds to me like he's having trouble making 160.
Obviously the long layoff itself is the reason, why he fights a decent tune-up opponent. This fight will show if he´s still in the top, he should win easily. Nothing wrong with fighting a tune-up when you´re just about faded into oblivion. Nothing new there.
Wlad Klitschko's whole career has been based on taking easy fights...I do not hear anyone complaining though :deal