{BOXING!} Taylor vs Wright

[H2O Man]

HBO will be showing the June 17 middleweight title bout; champion Jermain Taylor defends against Ronald "Winky" Wright. It should be an interesting fight. Wright's style isn't exciting compared to most of the top fighters, but he is very, very good. He's a southpaw who tends to counterpunch without a lot of power. He frustrates good boxers, often keeping them from getting "on track" with their jab.

Taylor, of course, is a young, fast, and strong fighter, who has won two fights in a row over Bernard Hopkins. Considering Bernard's recent victory over Tarver for the light heavyweight title, Taylor's victories seem all the more impressive.

Let's compare the the two: Taylor has a 25-0 record, with 17 KOs. He is not a big puncher, but his ability to put combinations together wears opponents down. Wright is 53-3, with 25 KOs. In my opinion, he is better than his record indicates. I do not mean just the numbers; boxing fans know he has been avoided by many of the big names for years.

Taylor was born on 8-11-78; Wright on 11-26-71. Jermain is 6'1", Winky is 5'11". Taylor's reach is 78", giving him a 6" advantage. His chest is bigger; his waist smaller; his thighs are 5" larger; and his calf measure 12", two inches smaller than Wright's.

The "biggest" names on each of their records are very impressive. Taylor beat Bernard twice, the second time more convincingly; Wright beat Trinidad easily, and has victories over Mosley. Winky fought Vargas, losing a curious decision.

Taylor has been sparring with Andy Lee, the undefeated Irish middleweight (2-0, with 1 KO). Andy is a 6'2" southpaw. Jermain has reportedly been looking extremely sharp in his final week of training. I don't have any reports on Wright's training, but he is always extremely well prepared when he gets into the ring.

I read that Tommy Hearns has been watching Jermain train (no surprise, considering his new trainer!), and said he is getting to where he would have been able to fight against the top guys in the 1980s. It's too early to say about where he may end up ranking in the division's history, but I thought that was pretty impressive.

Winky Wright would be a frustrating fight for guys his weight at any era. Can he step up and take a younger, faster, and stronger champion? I would never overlook this guy. It is a pretty even match going in. I'll be curious who can land their jab early on. If Wright can counter Taylor's jab with his own, he will be tough to beat. If Jermain can land double jabs early on, he will likely be on his way to a decision.

Good luck to both. I hope people enjoy the fight. And, if HBO has time, I hope we get to see Andy Lee's fight.

[TroubleMan]

1. Taylor looks better on paper, but it's really hard to pick against Wright.

It always seems that he should be an underdog, but then he comes in with a better game plan than the other guy, and takes him out of his game. Will Taylor be able to use his reach and speed to get a win, or will Wright's incredible defense get Taylor frustrated and take him out of his game?

The more I analyze it and read about it, the more I realize that I have no idea who will win. I'm completely split 50/50 on this one.

[H2O Man]

2. Yep.

It's easy to make a good case for either fighter. Both have potentially important advantages. Neither are the type that you could bet against safely. I think it is the type of fight that should be attractive to even the casual boxing fan. Both are the type of athlete that add "good" to the sport.

[Stephist]

4. Im stunned!

This was a far better fight than I ever thought it would be! I had Taylor winning it but the Draw was proper. Winky is not acting like a man after the fight though.

[H2O Man]

3. A draw!

Strange fight. Good fight.

[MessiahRp]

5. Taylor got screwed...

The judge that scored it 115-113 for Wright gave Wright the 12th round. Wright threw almost zero punches that round. He scores that correctly and he gets a 114-114 score which puts the Giampa 115-113 as the winning score. I find Wright getting the 12th stunning.

I had Taylor 115-113 myself.

Rp

[dr.zoidberg]

6. 7 rounds to 5 is hardly getting screwed.

The fight was a good, close one. IMO, the scores could have gone either way. Obviously, I have no problems with the scores and I really was not shocked by the judge's scores.

Was Winky a crybaby during the post-fight interview or what? He all but said that he got screwed. This was no screw-job, this was a close fight that could have gone either way.

[MessiahRp]

8. I would not have had a problem if the judge had it 115-113 legit

for Wright...

But there's no credible way to defend giving someone who didn't even barely punch let alone mount any offense that 12th round.

My issue is that the one person who scored that round incorrectly cost Taylor that fight.

Rp

[Stephist]

11. It would still be a draw.

Lampley was wrong. if the Judge had given the 12 round to Taylor it would be a Majority Draw. 115-113 114-114 114-114

[Stephist]

7. When I added up my score I had it 116-113 Taylor

making the 12th round a draw because neither guy did jack, but even I didn't agree with myself which I really can't explain. I don't know if you have ever scored a fight added it up afterwords and thought WTF? because it isn't what you thought you saw. The fact is this was a legit draw. if you thought it was 7-5 either way you can't argue with a draw.

[MessiahRp]

9. I almost had it 116-113 also...

I think that 3rd round was close enough to go either way. But it was clear that while neaither man was as aggressive as they were earlier, Taylor was moreso in the 12th. Wright basically gave that round away and thus my argument going back to the fact that the judge that scored the fight for Wright and caused this to be a draw did so based on giving the 12th to Wright... and that's where my complaint comes from.

Rp

[Stephist]

10. A question for the boxing fans

for all the negative press he sport gets when was the last time you saw a major fight and saw a fighter get "robbed"? I'm not saying the last time you disagreed with the judges decision, i'm saying when was the last time you thought a guy won 8,9 rounds or more and didn't get the decision?

I know it happens every week on Wednesday and Friday night fights, and those fights are major to the fighters in them, but generally in major championship fights I think the judging is "usually" solid.

[MessiahRp]

12. Any fight that happens in Germany

Seriously German judges are the most obviously corrupt in the sport...

Rp

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

13. I have no trouble with the draw

I had Wright winning a close one by two rounds. If Wright took off the last round, Taylor did the same and I think both men looked completely spent, as the fight was fought at a very fast and relentless pace. I think that Taylor hurt Wright to the body a few times, but that Wright's terrific jab really bothered Taylor and is what won the fight, as Wright is the one who really dictated the pace and the action (and did the most clean scoring). I have no problem with Wright leaving the ring before Larry Merchant could talk to him. Maybe it's not too smart for his image, but I can imagine being tired and frustrated to the point of not caring, particularly if I had fought a good fight with virtually the entire crowd pulling for the other guy and even with one of HBO's "Boxing After Dark" hosts working in the other guy's corner.

[H2O Man]

14. I thought Taylor

won the fight, but he made an error that young fighters often make, which cost him. Winky isn't a hard puncher, and Jermain obviosly wasn't taking the time to keep his hands up or block punches. But, because those punches don't hurt you, doesn't mean they aren't scoring points with the judges at ringside. You could hear Stewart telling him that in the corner -- "stay off the ropes."

I thought a draw was generous to Winkie. His behavior afterwards was unfortunate. Saying he didn't want a return match was interesting. I think he felt this kid's power, and if there were a return match, I think that the raw power of Taylor, the Kronk gym would have Taylor much better prepared.

It was a good night for boxing fans. Earlier in the night, a NYC channel played Shannon Briggs' last fight. I can see why the top heavyweights refuse to fight him. He may be the best in the division.

Watching the Hopkins v Tarver fight was a treat. The next time I watch it, however, I will turn the sound down, because Larry Merchant is at his worst. HBO should drop him, and hire someone who has a grasp of boxing.

And the Taylor fight was exciting and competitive. Neither man really imposed their will on the other. I can't complain about the draw. I'd love to see a return match.

[MessiahRp]

15. I kept screaming at my TV: "Get out of the corner!"

It felt like Rocky vs. Clubber Lang from Rocky III in a way. Everytime Taylor got momentum he'd back himself into the corner and Wright would rattle off nearly a dozen unanswered shots that looked like they rocked Taylor a little.

In the later rounds Taylor seems to figure out how to punch out of that situation and get out of the corners and I think Wright would lose the rematch quite thoroughly the way he was out scored in the majority of later rounds. Without those corners Wright wasn't really that effective as Taylor owned the middle of the ring.

Rp