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Winky To Jermain: "It's Time
To
Serve Your Mandatory Sentence!"
Fighting off the lingering effects of a severe week-long
chest and head cold and a spirited battle by the IBF's
top-rated middleweight contender, two time world champion
and WBC/WBA No. 1 middleweight contender WINKY WRIGHT won a
decisive unanimous decision over Sam Soliman Saturday night
at the Mohegan Sun Arena. Wright, 50-3 (25 KOs), from St.
Petersburg, FL, collected a milestone 50th victory while
snapping Soliman's three-year, 19-bout winning streak on
scores of 117-110, 115-112 and 115-113 in the WBC-sanctioned
title elimination bout. It was the 11th consecutive victory
for Wright going back to the disputed majority decision loss
to Fernando Vargas in 1999. Promoted by Winky Promotions, in
association with Gary Shaw Productions, the fight was
televised live on HBO.
Wright, who was also rated No. 3 by the IBF going into the
fight, now the legitimate undisputed No. 1 middleweight
contender and mandatory challenger, immediately sent out a
message to middleweight champion Jermain Taylor.
"I want Jermain next. I want him as soon as possible," said
Wright. "It's time Jermain. It's time you served your
mandatory sentence. The top-two pay-per-view stars of 2005
are also the two best fighters in the middleweight division
-- me and Jermain. The fight is a natural. This is the fight
the fans want most. Act like a champion and fight me. Don't
let your promoter's lack of confidence in your abilities
influence your reign as champion."
Soliman, 31-8 (12 KOs), from Australia, proved he was a
legitimate No. 1 contender, throwing an astounding 1260
punches, though only 14% actually landed, compared to
Wright, who connected on 46% of the 652 punches he threw.
"I felt it was a close fight until the end," said Soliman.
"I don't agree with the margin of victory some of the judges
scored it or with the decision. I felt it could have gone
either way. On thing we have in common, we fight anyone,
anywhere, anytime. He's from the old school in that way.
"Sam gave me a great fight," continued Wright. He takes a
helluva shot. I hit him with some great body shots and just
as he was about to go down, he would recover quickly. It was
amazing. I didn't think the fight was close. A lot of his
shots were wide and I blocked most of them. The cold made it
difficult to breathe through my nose and I was clearing my
nose after every round.
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