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LOS ANGELES (AFP) –
Ronald “Winky” Wright (R) during his middleweight bout against Paul Williams in 2009. Wright, a former undisputed light-middleweight world boxing champion, announced his retirement after a 22-year pro career that concluded with three losses in a row.
Ronald “Winky” Wright, a former undisputed light-middleweight world boxing champion, announced his retirement after a 22-year pro career that concluded with three losses in a row.
“Part of being a boxer is knowing when to call it quits,” Wright said. “It’s time for me.”
The 40-year-old southpaw finished 51-6 with one draw and 25 knockouts after losing his final bout last Saturday, dropping a unanimous 10-round decision to fellow American Peter Quillin.
“I did what I set out to do and that was to be great and become a world champion, Wright said. “I have a lot of great memories from my career and will still support this great sport.”
Wright had not fought for more than three years when he lost in what he hoped would be the launch of a comeback after unanimous 12-round decision losses to Paul Williams in 2009 and Bernard Hopkins in 2007.
Wright’s final world title bout came in 2006 when he fought Jermain Taylor to a 12-round draw in a fight for the World Boxing Council middleweight crown. His last victory came over Ghana’s Ike Quartey in 2006, ending Quartey’s career.
“Winky Wright is a class act in and out of the ring and if you wanted to see what true skill was, you watched him fight,” said promoter Oscar de la Hoya.
After winning his first 25 pro fights, Wright lost his first world title bout to Argentine southpaw Julio Cesar Vasquez in 1994.
In 2001, Wright won the International Boxing Federation light-middleweight crown and in 2004 he became the undisputed world champion after taking a unanimous 12-round decision over fellow American Shane Mosley.
Wright won a rematch with Mosley by majority decision later in 2004 and in 2005 kept his crown by defeating Puerto Rican legend Felix Trinidad in 2006, only the second career loss of Trinidad’s fabled career.
