This Friday night at the Royal Oak Theater in Detroit, undefeated Cruiserweight contender Junior Wright (10-0-1, 9 KO’s) will be back in action in an 8-round bout against Marlon Hayes (23-14, 11 KO’s). This will be Wright’s first appearance since his thrilling Fight of the Year candidate with fellow undefeated Steve Bujaj on May 15 at the Millennium Theater in Brooklyn, NY.
The Wright – Bujaj fight will be replayed this Saturday night on Comcast Sportsnet Chicago at 11 PM. Wright of Evanston, Illinois (just outside of Chicago) will be looking for an impressive performance against Hayes, who has faced the very top competition which includes world champions and top contenders.
“Training has gone well and I am ready for Friday night,” said Wright.
“Even though Hayes has a lot of fights, I really do not know much on him. I do a lot of stuff instinctively and I prepare for anything he can bring.”
Boxing fans in New York are still talking about his epic war with Bujaj and despite the physicality of the bout, Wright did not take too much time away from the gym.
“I got back in the gym about a week and a half after the fight. I knew I had this fight coming up so I gave myself a good month and half camp for this.”
Wright did some reflecting back on his classic with Bujaj and he thinks the two could meet again down the line.
“I felt I could have used my jab more and probably used more head movement. It was a good fight. Even though most of the fans believed I won, a draw was just. I wouldn’t mind a rematch.”
Wright is a recent signee of Dmitry Salita’s Star of David Promotions and he believes that the former world title challenger is the right promoter to get him the big opportunities.
“Dmitry has good intentions for me and as long as I do well, I know he will get me the big fights. I know that the Cruiserweight division is based in Europe, so I want to make the Europeans like Mayweather has had success with the Hispanic fighters. This Friday, Detroit should be for a Hurricane.””, finished Wright.
Said Wright’s trainer Rick Wilson, “There were some things in the Bujaj fight that should have been called like 8 or 9 low blows and an instance where we feel Junior was on his way of stopping Bujaj and the ref stopped it to give an 8-count but there is no 8-count in New York.”
“We are focused on Hayes. He has fought world class guys and has gone the distance with them. He is crafty who knows how to survive.”
Like Wright, Wilson likes the direction that Salita and Star of David Promotions is going with him.
“I have a good feeling about Dmitry’s vision and passion. We want to become the American Cruiserweight World champion. In 2 or 3 fights down to road go to Europe and look for a big fight there. There is a lot of opportunity as not only the champions are based there but the two guys in England in Nathan Cleverly and Tony Bellew are also on our radar.”
