In Boxing News: Wright-Taylor Off, Winky Speaks Out, Mayweather-Judah & Byrd-Klitschko
By Boxing News February 8th, 2006In Boxing News: Winky Explains Why Wright-Taylor Is Off
There’s 
been a strange twist of events in the on again, off again Winky Wright-Jermain Taylor saga - the sum total of which is that the mooted and much anticipated middleweight showdown is off again. As is often the case, it appears it may be boxing fans who are the big losers.
The St. Petersburg Times reported Tuesday that Winky Wright fired promoter Gary Shaw late Monday night, just moments after the promoter and Lou DiBella - Jermain Taylor’s promoter - had finalized a deal for Winky Wright to face Taylor in June. According to The Times, Gary Shaw said the contracts were ready to be signed, with the middleweight title fight boxing fans are waiting for scheduled for Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, live on HBO, but when presented with the deal, Wright declined. The Times also quotes DiBella: I’m stunned. Gary (Shaw) and I had the deal completely done. I’ve been trying hard to keep everything under wraps, but he has all the I’s dotted and the T’s crossed. We agreed on everything. Then I get a call from Shaw telling me he no longer represents Wright. DiBella said he would call the WBC and request a purse bid, which will require Wright to take 40 percent of the winning purse, far less - said DiBella - than Wright would have received under the deal Shaw negotiated. I can no longer let Jermain Taylor or the life of DiBella Entertainment ride on what Winky Wright is doing,” concluded DiBella. We’re going to be doing what’s in best interest for Jermain. I’m done with him. Winky Wright, I like him, but you can’t rely on him.
Not surprisingly, Winky has a different take on events. After Shaw had promoted Wright’s fight against Felix Trinidad, Wright established Winky Promotions and informed Shaw they would now work on a fight-by-fight basis, but as co-promoters. I can’t fire people who don’t work for me. Gary Shaw didn’t work for me. We worked on a fight-by-fight basis as I established Winky Promotions. People are trying to paint a bad picture of me, but all I’m trying to do is show my business mind, establish my business and create a life for me outside of boxing. What’s wrong with that? I’m trying to get Winky Promotions running and want it to be seen as a viable promotional company. I couldn’t do that because people kept thinking everything was a Gary Shaw Productions. Winky also confirmed that as long as he is required to take less money than Taylor, the Jermain Taylor fight is a non-starter: I don’t need Jermain Taylor. He needs me. I’m always the one have to take the least amount of money. Why do I always have to be the one to take less money to make a fight? From now on, everyone else will have to take less. I’m not signing anything right now. I have a lot of fans behind me and many people are glad to see me doing my own thing. One can see Winky’s point. He’s paid his dues, why should he take the short end of the stick? On the other hand, a lot of boxing fans are Winky Wright fans, at least in part, because he has always been chasing the tough fights, the big fights. Now, whether he’s justified or not, he’s embroiled in the negotiating quicksand which threatens to suffocate the fight game.
Floyd Mayweather faces Zab Judah for Judah’s IBF welterweight crown on April 8 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas. As usual, Mayweather is in a confident mood: I have been here before. I have fought on major pay-per-views. I know about big fights. I may be going in as the challenger but I will be fighting like a champion. You will never see me in the ring unprepared. He is the best in the east and I am the best in the west. Now we are going to see who the best of the best really is. Zab is fast and strong but he has no chin. No way he will be able to take my punch. Despite Judah’s loss to Carlos Baldomir, it’s an interesting fight. All the same, it’s hard to argue with Mayweather’s logic.
Chris Byrd returns to action and defends his title against Wladimir Klitschko on April 22nd in Germany (HBO). Klitschko is doing his best to promote the fight: It’s a great feeling to fight for the world championship again. I did beat [Byrd] five years ago on points, but Byrd is stronger and more experienced today. His victories against top people like Evander Holyfield, Jameel McCline and David Tua speak for themselves. Of course, this is untrue. Byrd is not the fighter he was five years ago and it seems a bit odd that Byrd, as the champion, would go to Germany to face Klitschko. An Emanuel Steward-trained Wladimir Klitschko is a tough matchup for Byrd. Maybe Byrd has decided to cash his chips in after years of frustration at not getting the big paydays his status within the division merited. Bottom line, it’s hard to see him winning this fight.
(As always … more Boxing News Links at TheSweetScience.com)
February 8th, 2006 at 8:28 pm
I am not surprised at Winky’s predicament. He has been avoided in the past when only a handful of hardcore fans and boxing writers appreciated him. Now that he has shown the world in high profile fights just how good he really is that will make matters worse. Too good for his own good is becoming a painful cliche.
February 9th, 2006 at 9:21 am
Its not all that surprising that the “champ” Byrd would go to Germany for this rematch with Klistchko - anyone who watched the Byrd - McCline dance - or was that a fight? I can’t remember - can understand why Byrd has to accept the other fighter’s terms if he ever wants to make some decent coin again.
February 9th, 2006 at 6:49 pm
Mayweather is a shoe in to win. Think about it- he has better accuracy, equal or more strength, MUCH BETTER DEFENSE, and last but not least I believe Mayweather has a wider variety of attacks.
February 10th, 2006 at 12:22 pm
The only way I see Byrd winning this fight is if he constantly test Klitschko’s chin all night long. Since he is not this type of fighter, the result will probably be quite obvious. Winky and Taylor should just fight and get it over with. One or both of them dont really wanna fight, b/c if two people REALLY wanna fight, they will go to ANY length to make it happen.
February 11th, 2006 at 10:08 pm
personally If wright really feels that he could Pummel taylor… he could easily take less money (for now) Take jermain down and then be In position Finally to demand the better end if the Purse situations cuz he would then be Champion and he Could force JT to take less money in a mandatory rematch. Winky is my last hope to Expose This Phony we all know as Jermain (sad Intenrions) Taylor…
February 12th, 2006 at 7:45 am
Let me comment on Zab Judah and Floyd Mayweather, first and formost just like the so called Super Roy Jones Jr., nobody has ever seen Floyd take a big shot, and the one shot that wasn’t even that big that he took against Castillo he was wobbled, O.K. grant it Zab Does have a weak chin, but at the same time Floyd has never, I say again never been in the ring with someone as fast as Zab is. He has fought very strong and courageous fighters but none with speed, accuracy, and the power all in one. Do I like Floyd Mayweather as a person hmmmm yes because I have met him and talked to him same as Zab been at his fights and he’s been at mine. My prediction, just like I said that Klitchsko would beat Peter, and I said that Roy Jones would loose if he fought Tarver. So I will say that Zab will not only give Floyd his first loss but he will ave him hurt, and possibly put him down. Oh one more thing Mr. Bell the Cruiserweight Champion, when do I get my chance, huh you can’t run forever and keep saying you don’t want me figting on the same card as you, and trust me right now I’m overseas I have a fight on March 7, but I will be in Florida on the 15 of March So come get at me lets negotiate since you say I will be a warm up fight for you, and I’ll tell you what if I loose to you I won’t ever fight again. I know people at Warriors Boxing, and red Line Media so Wsup lets do this.
February 17th, 2006 at 1:52 pm
Floyd is going to destroy judah remember i said this. Floyd’s to fast and strong zab’s chin is like glass floyd will brake 5 rounds
February 17th, 2006 at 2:47 pm
FLOYD MAYWEATHER IS ZABS FATHER AND HE WILL DISCIPLINEHIM LIKE A FATHER DOES A SON SCREW WINKY HE FIGHTS A NON CROWD PLEASING STYLE AND WANTS THE BIG BUCKS HE MESSED UP NEGOTIATIONS WITH FLOYD MAYWEATHER HE WAS SCARED AND OUTBIDDED HIMSELF NOW HE IS DOING THE SAME THING WITH TAYLOR AND ITS HURTING BOXING PRETTY SOON HE GONNA GET KNOCKED OUT AND RETIRE BROKE WINKY IS A GEEK.
February 17th, 2006 at 11:46 pm
BROOKLYN STAND UP!!!!!! THIS 1 IS IN THE BAG ZAB’S GOING 2 PUSH FLOYD’S SHHT IN SPEED’S EVEN BUT POWER GOTTA GO 2 ZAB YEAH HE LOST SO WHAT I LIKE THAT NOW THE MAN KNOW HE GOTTA HANDLE BIZNESS HE ALWAYS PROVES HIMSELF AFTER A LOSS CASE POINT BUM DUDE FROM ST LOUIS I DONT EVEN WANNA SAY DUDE NAME HE WENT INTO HIS HOUSE & STRONG ARMED THAT CHUMP
February 18th, 2006 at 12:31 pm
The fight between Mayweather and Judah is a intresting one and a differcult one to predict a winner. Mayweather is going up a weight and has been lucky in his career that he has not took a big shot of anyone, Judah could prove his nemisis he certainly has the speed and power but prone to being glass chinned, the Baldomir and Tsyzu fights proved that. Whoever prevails I would like Ricky Hatton to face the winner he certainly is the best at light welterweight and it would not harm his career going up a weight.
February 18th, 2006 at 1:34 pm
Floyd is the pound 4 pound best. Look at all the magazines, he is at the top of every lists. Floyd has never lost and performs his best in big fights. Zab on the other hand chokes in big fights and has the weakest chin I have ever seen. Floyd said not to underestimate the power of being undefeated. Its something his not going to give up easiliy. No way Mayweather loses this fight. Judah let that sorry Baldomir hurt him badly and there is no way he can stand up to Floyd’s power. If Mayweather doesn’t knock him out, Floyd will win by a wide unamious decision.
February 20th, 2006 at 1:19 pm
Winky Wright should stick to his guns.He’s a proven warrior in the sport so why should he have to bow down to Jermain to make a fight?Jermain not taking anything from him he’s good but Bernard is older and not as agressive as he once was.Zab,Zab,Zab my friend we have come a long way and one thing remains the same YOUR CHIN IS A NO GO BUDDY.Can we say KNOCKOUT.Ther’s no way he’s winning this one.Winky’s defense will prove to be Taylor’s nightmare.YOU CANT BEAT WHAT YOU CANT HIT.
May 13th, 2006 at 2:23 pm
hello winky and his asscociats i,m eric french i,m a cruiserweight opponet i,m looking for ten rounders i have all up todate medicai hiv,eeg,eye exam i hope you can use me in the future i,m self managed my record is 10-37wow i,m 41 but i,m serious my phone1-630-679-0902 my email beetdown1267@yahoo.com if you know of a serious promoter or matchmaker who will use me pass my info on please trying to get on ,,,,,,,i can produce all medical ……….thank you