Much has been said and written about “Kid Chocolate” and for good reason. Quillin has a small army of very powerful names behind him in both Golden Boy Promotions and Freddie Roach. With lofty expectations comes a great deal of attention in this sport and, to date, Quillin has thrived in the face of all adversity, with none of his past five fights going longer than the sixth round.
Although it may seem obvious of any fighter stepping into the ring for a big bout, in Quillin’s case a strong showing is of utmost importance in accepting this fight with Wright. And, by “strong showing” Quillin’s camp is clearly thinking of making “Winky” the twenty-first—and most notable—knockout of “Kid Chocolate’s” career. Anything less will not be nearly as satisfying.
- When: June 2, 2012
- Where: Home Depot Center, Carson, California
- Undercard: The co-feature bout with Antonio Tarver facing Lateef Kayode; undercard features Austin Trout vs. Delvin Rodriguez and Leo Santa Cruz vs. Vusi Malinga
The Pugs and The Prize
Peter “Kid Chocolate” Quillin (26-0, 20 KOs)
Height: 6’1”
Nationality: U.S.A.
Age: 28
Fighting out of: Brooklyn, New York
Stance: Orthodox
Ronald “Winky” Wright (51-5-1, 25 KOs)
Height: 5’10 ½ ”
Nationality: United States
Age: 40
Fighting out of: Saint Petersburg, Florida
Stance: Southpaw
No championship is at stake, however ProBoxing-Fans.com’s #10 ranked middleweight Quillin puts his pristine record—and a potential title shot— on the line against Wright, who is fighting for only the second time in nearly five years.
Quillin vs. Wright Fight Analysis
What hurts Wright in this bout is, quite obviously, the time away from the ring. He will no doubt be in impeccable physical condition come June 2, but will that be enough to overcome the ring rust that has accumulated over the past three years since his loss to Williams? Add to that the fact that Wright is now a man in his 40s and, save for Bernard Hopkins, that generally doesn’t bode well for fighters.
The southpaw will rely on his sharp jab and seven –to-eight punch combinations to force the action. His movement will be tested by the quicker Quillin, as will his propensity to allow too much offense. There are many unknowns with Wright, which forces his experience to the forefront as his greatest asset. The former light middleweight title holder knows what it takes to win on the biggest stage and remain there for some time. He has squared off with some of this generation’s best fighters at times where they were fighting some of their best fights. Psychologically, Wright will be ready for this fight.
Detractors of what Peter Quillin has done in his career will simply point to the hype machine that surrounds him as to why he’s suddenly being considered a hot commodity at middleweight. To do that would be a great slight to a man who has sought out, and defeated, all comers during his career. Could he have a made move earlier to take on a bigger name in the middleweight division? Undeniably.
Following his victory over Troy Lowry at 163 in 2007—who then boasted a respectable record—it would’ve made a great deal of sense for Quillin to set his sights on bigger names. Instead, Quillin spent another five years tuning up decent fighters, but none with the cache of even a 40-year-old Wright. The hard throwing knockout artist that is “Kid Chocoloate” wants the distinction of being the first man to stop Wright in a fight while stepping over him to the greener pastures of a title hunt, regardless of what stage of his career “Winky” may be.
Quillin vs. Wright Prediction
Winky Wright will look to pull off the improbable in just over two weeks by returning to live action against a very game opponent more than a decade his junior. With styles and life stages clashing, it should make for a very interesting fight to round out a card where the past faces the present.
Expect Quillin to attack early, often and constantly. He knows who is across the ring from him and is more than confident in his ability. What makes him especially dangerous in this fight is the belief in the back of his mind that he can go the distance if need be. Given Wright’s pride, comeback and record of never being stopped is on the line, there’s a very good chance that “Winky” is more defensive than usual in the opening rounds, and for a defensive-shell fighter, that says quite a lot.
Quillin will be looking for the early knockout, throwing those looping hooks he’s accustomed to using. If Wright can withstand Quillin’s opening salvo for the first couple of rounds, he may win himself the opportunity to settle in and exploit “Kid Chocolate’s” weaknesses, including over-exposure of his chin when throwing from the right side.
Still, Quillin should have the edge, barring an unforeseen letdown in planning. If the Wright of 2012 continues to defend as loosely as did the Wright of 2009 or 2007, Quillin will pound him at every opportunity. In order to be successful, Wright will need to survive long enough to allow Quillin to punch himself out a bit, and then take the youngster to school through a series of off-hand jabs and straight lefts. Wright knows how to win this fight, but whether he has the ability to make it happen is another story altogether. The thought here is that for the first time in a career spanning 22 years, Wright will lose a fight prior to it reaching the judges’ scorecards.
Prediction: Quillin by TKO in the sixth round
