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Misc Boxing/MMA Boxing Archive Preview: Jermain Taylor - Winky Wright
Written by Scott Swerbinsky

Scott Swerbinsky
There's a huge fight tonight on HBO as two of the sports top five pound for pound fighters duke it out for the middleweight crown. Ronald "Winky Wright (50-3) faces undefeated Jermain Taylor (25-0) in the most hyped fight of the year. The action starts at 9:30 PM ET on HBO, and as always, The Spoon Man is here with the 411 on what to expect.  Every generation has at least one great fighter who wants to fight all the top guys to prove he is the best of the best.  

Jermain Taylor is that guy. Tonight from the Fedex Forum in Memphis he will be taking on his toughest test of his career when he steps in with Winky Wright.  

Most top fighters, past or present would take a tuneup fight after two tough fights against a legend. Not Taylor. After defeating Bernard Hopkins twice in two close matches most observers wouldn’t have thought Jermain would actually be taking a step up in competition. That’s exactly what he is doing and I love it.

Ronald “Winky” Wright is the best defensive fighter in the world today. He has finally started to get the recognition he has deserved for many years. He has traveled all over the world to prove he will fight anyone and anywhere. He has been dominant against household names like Trinidad and Mosley.  Tonight’s fight isn’t anything new for him as he will take on Taylor just an hour away from the champion’s hometown of Little Rock, Arkansas.  

This fight might be the most evenly matched as we will see this year. Taylor (25-0 ,17 KOS) is the Middleweight champion. Wright (50-3 ,25 KOS) is considered in the Top 5 pound for pound rankings. Both have the heart and will to do whatever it takes to win.

Jermain Taylor has size and speed to his advantage. Wright on the other hand is crafty and seen everything.  The power is going to be the determining factor tonight. Can Taylor get thru the world class defense of the challenger? Can Wright hurt the bigger Taylor?

This is my pick for fight of the year. Taylor has been everything he was hyped up to be. He is a great champion and wants to keep on proving people wrong. Winky Wright has been looking to get more and more respect for years. There wouldn’t be any better way to get that by beating one of the poster boys of the sport.

To be the man, you have to beat the man” Two studs of the sport are facing off tonight and I can’t wait until the bell rings. One of these guys is going to be “The man” and I’ll be tuned in.

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