Winky Has the Wright Answers

LAS VEGAS, NV - Ronald "Winky" Wright dominated "Sugar" Shane Mosley from start to finish at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, posting a convincing 12-round unanimous decision to capture the undisputed super welterweight title.

Despite carrying the IBF belt into the bout, Wright was a considerable underdog against Mosley, widely considered one of the top pound-for-pound fighters in the world.

But southpaw Wright used superior conditioning, a stiff jab and solid combinations to hammer Mosley who in September had earned the WBA and WBC super welterweight titles with his second straight win over Oscar de la Hoya.

Judges Chuck Giampa and Dave Moretti scored the bout 117-111 and Paul Smith made it 116-112 for Wright, who improved to 47-3 with 25 wins inside the distance.

"I deserved it, it's been a long time," Wright said.

Wright made the most of his chance, stretching his winning streak to eight straight since dropping a split decision to Fernando Vargas in December of 1999.

Mosley coming off a win against Oscar De La Hoya, fell to 39-3. His two previous losses came at the hands of Vernon Forrest.

"I felt like I had a monkey on my back all night," Mosley said. "I couldn't do what I wanted to do. I never felt like I could get off. I was dehydrated from the fourth round on. I had muscle fatigue. Winky fought a great fight but it was more what was wrong with me than what was right with him."

On the undercard, heavyweight prospect "Baby" Joe Mesi nearly threw away a series of potentially lucrative paydays with six sloppy minutes.

Mesi was sent to the canvas three times in the final four minutes but held on for a narrow 10-round unanimous decision over former cruiserweight champion Vassiliy Jirov of Kazakhstan.

"I didn't know it was so close," Mesi said after the fight. "Had I known, I would have taken more chances. I feel like I didn't do a good job but I will learn from this."

Sonny Banerjee
Editor-in-chief