Winky Wright
By Times Staff Writer
Published February 25, 2004
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AGE: 32. CLAIM TO FAME: Ronald "Winky" Wright is the standard by which all boxers from the Tampa Bay area will be measured.
St. Petersburg has always had a mild reputation as a fight town, and in recent years it has produced its share of contenders. But Wright, the current International Boxing Federation junior middleweight champion, is believed to be the first world champion.
He has held a number of minor titles over the years, all paling in comparison to his IBF belt.
Wright attended Northeast High before transferring to Gibbs, where he graduated in 1990. Bored by the slow St. Petersburg lifestyle, he was tempted to move back to Washington, where he was born Nov. 26, 1971. But a friend told him about Dan and Mike Birmingham's St. Pete Boxing Club, and soon after starting to train, he was hooked.
Wright, a slick lefty with dazzling speed, was an Olympic team hopeful, going 52-4 as an amateur. He won a bronze medal at the 1990 USA Boxing championships, a national Police Athletic Title and a U.S. Olympic Festival Gold Medal. As a pro, he has fought all over the country but never in St. Petersburg, and he made a name for himself in Europe. That was to the detriment of his American fan base, however, and it wasn't until beating Bronco McKart in 1996 for his first pro boxing title that Wright began to make a name for himself in the United States.
Wright has had offers and been encouraged to take on bigger name trainers but has remained loyal to his first trainer, Dan Birmingham. It is one of his traits that his friends admire most. And in the oft-troubled world of boxing, the quiet, unassuming Wright is a rare breed: good fighter, good person.
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING: "The difference between Winky and other guys is that he has always had the determination to come to the gym and work out every day," Dan Birmingham said. "People don't understand what hard work that is."
DID YOU KNOW: Wright and Dan Birmingham now are partners in the St. Pete Boxing Club, which has moved from its original location to 1330 49th St. S. Andy Lockhart, who owns a C.D. Roma restaurant on 66th Street N, is another partner. Wright also has a record label, Pound-4-Pound Records, and hopes to showcase some St. Petersburg performers.
WHERE ARE THEY NOW: Wright still lives and trains in St. Petersburg but is preparing in Houston at manager James Prince's gym for the biggest fight of his life. On March 13, Wright and Shane Mosley will unify the 154-pound title in Las Vegas.
WORDS TO LIVE BY: On his business ventures, Wright says, "I want to help some of the people in the inner city. I still haven't made big money, but there's a lot of people making no money. I'm part of this city, and I'll try to help them."
By Times Staff Writer
Published February 25, 2004
<HR noShade SIZE=1>
AGE: 32. CLAIM TO FAME: Ronald "Winky" Wright is the standard by which all boxers from the Tampa Bay area will be measured.
St. Petersburg has always had a mild reputation as a fight town, and in recent years it has produced its share of contenders. But Wright, the current International Boxing Federation junior middleweight champion, is believed to be the first world champion.
He has held a number of minor titles over the years, all paling in comparison to his IBF belt.
Wright attended Northeast High before transferring to Gibbs, where he graduated in 1990. Bored by the slow St. Petersburg lifestyle, he was tempted to move back to Washington, where he was born Nov. 26, 1971. But a friend told him about Dan and Mike Birmingham's St. Pete Boxing Club, and soon after starting to train, he was hooked.
Wright, a slick lefty with dazzling speed, was an Olympic team hopeful, going 52-4 as an amateur. He won a bronze medal at the 1990 USA Boxing championships, a national Police Athletic Title and a U.S. Olympic Festival Gold Medal. As a pro, he has fought all over the country but never in St. Petersburg, and he made a name for himself in Europe. That was to the detriment of his American fan base, however, and it wasn't until beating Bronco McKart in 1996 for his first pro boxing title that Wright began to make a name for himself in the United States.
Wright has had offers and been encouraged to take on bigger name trainers but has remained loyal to his first trainer, Dan Birmingham. It is one of his traits that his friends admire most. And in the oft-troubled world of boxing, the quiet, unassuming Wright is a rare breed: good fighter, good person.
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING: "The difference between Winky and other guys is that he has always had the determination to come to the gym and work out every day," Dan Birmingham said. "People don't understand what hard work that is."
DID YOU KNOW: Wright and Dan Birmingham now are partners in the St. Pete Boxing Club, which has moved from its original location to 1330 49th St. S. Andy Lockhart, who owns a C.D. Roma restaurant on 66th Street N, is another partner. Wright also has a record label, Pound-4-Pound Records, and hopes to showcase some St. Petersburg performers.
WHERE ARE THEY NOW: Wright still lives and trains in St. Petersburg but is preparing in Houston at manager James Prince's gym for the biggest fight of his life. On March 13, Wright and Shane Mosley will unify the 154-pound title in Las Vegas.
WORDS TO LIVE BY: On his business ventures, Wright says, "I want to help some of the people in the inner city. I still haven't made big money, but there's a lot of people making no money. I'm part of this city, and I'll try to help them."
