America’s No. 1 middleweight contender, undefeated Peter “Kid Chocolate” Quillin (26-0, 20 KOs), fully understands that an impressive victory June 2 over four-time world light middleweight champion Ronald “Winky” Wright (51-5-1, 25 KOs) should get him much closer to his dream of fighting for a world title.
Quillin-Wright is the 10-round Showtime co-feature at Home Depot Center in Carson, California.
Wright has never been stopped in 57 pro bouts, fighting world-class opponents such as Felix Trinidad (WDEC12), Shane Mosley (DEC12 twice), Bernard Hopkins (LDEC12), Paul Williams (LDEC12), Fernando Vargas (LDEC12) and Jermain Taylor (D12). All of Wright’s five losses have been to world champions.
“This is my first fight on Showtime and it’s a great opportunity for me to showcase my talents,” Quillin said. “The reason I make so many sacrifices and work so hard is to be world middleweight champion. Defeating ‘Winky’ will get me closer and becoming the first to knock him out is motivating. I also want revenge for ‘Winky’ beating one of my favorite fighters, Felix Trinidad.”
At risk for Quillin is a future title shot against one of the current world champions – Felix Sturm (WBA Super), Gennady Golovkin (WBA Regular), Daniel Geale (IBF), Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr. (WBC) and Dmitry Pirog (WBO) – and ultimately the coveted showdown with the universally recognized 160-pound champion, Sergio Martinez.
Quillin, the IBF #6 rated middleweight, could also be in line to fight one of the other top contenders such as Mathew Macklin or Andy Lee – a fight in NYC would be huge for Manhattan resident “Kid Chocolate” vs. either Irishman – or possibly former world champion Jermain Taylor. Lee, who passed on an opportunity to fight Quillin back on March 17 (St. Patrick’s Day) at The Theater in Madison Square Garden, challenges Chavez on June 9.
None of the aforementioned potential fights will happen, of course, unless Quilln gets past the ageless Wright, whose peek-a-boo defensive style has caused nightmares for many opponents.
“I go to Wild Card Gym to work and with my strength-and-conditioning coach, Brad Bose, at his Anatomi Gym,” Quillin spoke about being a professional boxer on the brink of a world title fight. “That’s all I do when I’m training for a fight. I don’t really do too much more between fights because boxing is my job, my career. My father, Pedro, and little brother, Cedric, have been here with me in LA giving me added motivation. My time is coming!”
Quillin has a powerful team behind him: promoter Golden Boy Promotions, co-managers John Seip and Jim McDevitt, new advisor Al Haymon, and trainers Freddie Roach and Eric Brown. They can get him to the Promised Land in boxing, but all of the rest is squarely up to “Kid Chocolate,” starting June 2nd with “Winky.”
