TRINIDAD VS. WRIGHT: WRIGHT PUTS ON A CLINIC

May 15, 2005 - by Bert Sugar

Almost from the time the Felix Trinidad-Winky Wright fight was announced those with Delphic franchises predicted that "Tito" might have some trouble with the slick, left-handed Wright. That prediction turned out to be the most classic understatement since some Crow scout told Col. Custer there might be a little trouble along the shores of the Little Big Horn. The Trinidad faithful pointed to their idol's first comeback fight against Ricardo Mayorga after being idle for two-plus years as proof positive that their hero was back with a cap "B." But cynics, of whom there are many, suggested that Mayorga was ready-made for Trinidad, offering little else than his chin, which was there for the taking. And that Winky Wright offered a far different, and more dangerous, challenge. For Wright was an excellent defensive fighter, a southpaw with a looong right jab and movement which made it as difficult to open him up as a clam with a butter knife.

Despite all naysayers, Trinidad's supporters made him the 9-5 favorite, believing in their heart of hearts that his power would mare than offset Wright's defensive skills and that, having fought left handers before, Trinidad would have little difficulty solving the left-handed style of Wright. Moreover, Wright coming up from 154 to 160 would give Tito a decided power edge. Or so the thinking of Trinidad's backers went.

And so Tito's parishioners packed the MGM Grand Garden Arena to root…root…root for their hero, cheering him to the echo before the fight. However, Wright was to turn those cheers into the ghostly silence of mourners at a deathbed almost from the opening bell as he began wielding his right jab like a tuning fork, making Trinidad's head bob up and down like a skiff in choppy waters every time it landed.

Just as telling was Trinidad's inability to cope with Wright's southpaw stance. Not only was he unable to elude Wright's right-hand jab, he was also unable to figure out what to do with his feet, something that became evident in the first round when referee Jay Nady warned him about stepping on Wright's toes.

FIGHTERS	Trinidad	Wright
TOTAL PUNCHES
Thrown	557	756
Connected	58	262
%	10%	35%
JABS
Thrown	327	588
Connected	15	185
%	5%	31%
POWER PUNCHES
Thrown	230	168
Connected	43	77
%	19%	46%
JUDGES SCORECARDS
Roth	108	119
Moretti	108	119
Ford	107	120

As round-after-round went by and Wright continued to serve up his heat-seeking right jab in generous portions--with more that a few lefts thrown in for good measure--it became evident to all that the fight was becoming an elementary, alimentary and complimentary blowout. The few times Tito tried to mount an attack, it became only an invitation to future hurts, as Wright would merely cover up, then counter with more of the same: right jabs and left follow-ups, Tito's efforts to take cheese from the set mousetrap unavailing and ineffective.

As round-after-round went by and Wright continued to serve up his heat-seeking right jab in generous portions--with more that a few lefts thrown in for good measure--it became evident to all that the fight was becoming an elementary, alimentary and complimentary blowout. The few times Tito tried to mount an attack, it became only an invitation to future hurts, as Wright would merely cover up, then counter with more of the same: right jabs and left follow-ups, Tito's efforts to take cheese from the set mousetrap unavailing and ineffective.

(In fact, Wright's defense was so bulletproof that the only spot he left open was below the trunks, which Tito took advantage of, hitting him low several times to the hip--a strategy he had used in previous fights to slow down opponents--but which brought him only warnings from referee Nady and finally a point deduction in the ninth. And all of which seemed to have the same effect as a fig leaf at a nudists' convention, Wright paying 'em no-never-mind.)

Going into the 12th and final round, Felix's trainer, Felix Trinidad Sr., could only offer one piece of advice to his son: "Don't get hurt!" That was all that was left to the once-great as the plucked and singed bird of misfortune came out for the last round to absorb more right jabs and more punishment.

The decision--one judge giving Wright all 12 rounds and the other two, on the same basis those grading SAT tests give students 700 points just for showing up, one round apiece--only confirming what everyone had seen: that the fight was what Muhammed Ali would have called "a one-sided butt whuppin! ."

Any talk of a rematch can only be met with the dislocation of a rib in an effort to abstain from laughing. For the result would be no different. In fact the judges can mark their cards now if the fight last Saturday night is any indication.

Boxing fans should consider the man who until this past year had been as well known as Whistler's father as boxing's new Mr. Wright, one of the sport's marquee fighters.