Bernard Hopkins vs. Winky Wright

Bernard Hopkins vs. Winky Wright, billed as Coming to Fight, was a professional boxing match contested on July 21, 2007, for the The Ring light heavyweight title.[1]

Coming to Fight
DateJuly 21, 2007
VenueMandalay Bay Events Center, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
Title(s) on the lineThe Ring light heavyweight title
Tale of the tape
Boxer Bernard Hopkins Ronald Wright
Nickname "The Executioner" "Winky"
Hometown Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. Washington, D.C., U.S.
Purse $3,000,000 $2,000,000
Pre-fight record 47–4–1 (1) (32 KO) 51–3–1 (25 KO)
Age 42 years, 6 months 35 years, 7 months
Height 6 ft 1 in (185 cm) 5 ft 10+12 in (179 cm)
Weight 170 lb (77 kg) 170 lb (77 kg)
Style Orthodox Southpaw
Recognition The Ring
Light Heavyweight Champion
WBO
No. 1 Ranked Light Heavyweight
WBC/The Ring
No. 2 Ranked Middleweight
IBF/WBO
No. 3 Ranked Middleweight
WBA
No. 4 Ranked Middleweight
2-time light middleweight champion
Result
Hopkins wins via unanimous decision (117–111, 117–111, 116–112)

Background

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Bernard Hopkins had announced his retirement after defeating Antonio Tarver in dominating fashion to capture The Ring light heavyweight title the previous year.[2] Despite his impressive performance, Hopkins was adamant during the immediate aftermath that his boxing career was over as he had promised his now-deceased mother he would retire after moving up from middleweight to capture the light heavyweight title.[3] However, Hopkins would announce his comeback only eight months later to face former 2-time light middleweight champion Ronald "Winky" Wright.[4] With Wright having never fought past the middleweight limit of 160 pounds and Hopkins now fighting two divisions above at the 175-pound light heavyweight limit, the two fighters agreed to a catchweight of 170 pounds.[5] As both fighters were known more for their defensive skills rather than their knockout prowess, many boxing pundits, including Teddy Atlas and Angelo Dundee, predicted the fight would be a slow, tactical affair.[6]

At the pre-fight weigh-in, Hopkins and Wright were fact-to-face exchanging words when Hopkins suddenly shoved Wright, causing a melee between both of their entourages. The Nevada State Athletic Commission announced that they would withhold 10 percent of Hopkins' $3 million purse pending a hearing on the matter.[7] One month later a five-person panel reduced the fine to 6 percent or $200,000.[8]

The fight

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Hopkins, using his constant movement and superior defense, completely neutralized Wright's best punch, his right jab, holding Wright to just 87 of 290, while often countering with combinations to the body which weakened Wright as the fight went on. The turning point of the fight came in the second round when Hopkins headbutted Wright opening a large gash near his left eye which hindered him throughout the fight and which Hopkins targeted frequently. Hopkins was not penalized for the butt but was warned for rubbing his head again Wrights whenever the two were engaged in a clinch.[9] After 12 rounds, Hopkins would earn a relatively lopsided unanimous decision victory with all three judges naming him the winner with two scores of 117–111 and one score of 116–112, giving Wright his first defeat in over 7 years.

HBO's Harold Lederman scored the bout a draw, 114–114, while the Associated Press scored the bout 115–113 for Hopkins.

Aftermath

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The card generated between 300,000 and 330,000 buys on HBO.

Fight card

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Confirmed bouts:[10]

Weight Class Weight vs. Method Round Notes
Catchweight 170 lbs. Bernard Hopkins (c) def Ronald Wright UD 12/12 Note 1
Featherweight 126 lbs. Jorge Linares def. Óscar Larios TKO 10/12 Note 2
Lightweight 135 lbs. Michael Katsidis (c) def. Czar Amonsot UD 12/12 Note 3
Super Lightweight 140 lbs. Demetrius Hopkins def. Jailer Berrio TKO 1/10
Light Heavyweight 175 lbs. Librado Andrade def. Ted Muller TKO 2/8
Middleweight 160 lbs. Jose Angel Rodriguez def. Keenan Collins SD 8/8
Welterweight 147 lbs. Rock Allen def. Ramiro Rivera UD 6/6
Featherweight 126 lbs. Juan Domínguez def. Manuel Gonzalez Garcia MD 4/4

^Note 1 For The Ring light heavyweight title
^Note 2 For WBC Featherweight title
^Note 3 For WBO Interim lightweight title

Broadcasting

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Country Broadcaster
  United Kingdom Sky Sports
  United States HBO

References

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  1. ^ "Bernard Hopkins vs. Ronald Wright". boxrec.com. BoxRec. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
  2. ^ 'Executioner' ruthlessly efficient in final bout, ESPN article, 2006-06-10 Retrieved on 2024-08-24
  3. ^ 'Hopkins adamant that his days in the ring are over, The Guardian article, 2006-06-13 Retrieved on 2024-08-24
  4. ^ Bernard Hopkins to fight Winky Wright in July, Pasadena Star News article, 2007-02-14 Retrieved on 2024-08-24
  5. ^ Bernard Hopkins-Winky Wright Agree To Terms For July 21 Pay-Per-View Clash At 170-Pounds, Boxing Scene article 2007-02-02 Retrieved on 2024-08-25
  6. ^ Hopkins-Wright: Chess match? Yes. Exciting? Hmm ..., ESPN article 2007-02-16 Retrieved on 2024-08-25
  7. ^ Hopkins shoves Wright, starts scuffle at weigh in, ESPN article 2007-07-20 Retrieved on 2024-08-25
  8. ^ Hopkins fined $200,000 for weigh-in scuffle with Wright, ESPN article 2007-08-17 Retrieved on 2024-08-25
  9. ^ Hopkins keeps title with entertaining win over Wright, ESPN article, 2007-07-22 Retrieved on 2024-08-25
  10. ^ "BoxRec - event".
Preceded by Bernard Hopkins's bouts
21 July 2007
Succeeded by
Preceded by Winky Wright's bouts
21 July 2007
Succeeded by