"Peek-A-Boo" Winky, Where Are You?

It was just last summer that Ronald "Winky" Wright was among the top five in all boxing's pound-for-pound list composed by most so-called pundits. What a difference a year makes. Since his last significant fight (last summer versus Bernard Hopkins) (48-5-1, 32 KOs), the career of Winky Wright (51-4-1, 25 KOs) has faded to black.

Currently, he is on no one's top 10 pound for pound ranking, and most boxing writers don't even list him in the top 20 anymore. A complete 180 degree turn for a boxer who some called the heir to Floyd Mayweather's throne just over a year ago.

But is the former #2 pound-for-pound fighter in the world solely to blame? It seems like he has been searching for fights, but between him asking for too much (he asked for $4 million to fight Kelly Pavlik, and wanted the lion's share in a rematch versus Jermain Taylor), or just downright declining the offer, we haven't seen Wright in the ring since last July.

Winky's style doesn't help too much, either - mostly known for his defensive shell-like "peek-a-boo" style, he doesn't draw too much interest from managers or fighters. His latest effort was indeed a snoozer, so it wouldn't be wise to expect overwhelming ticket sales or for anything more than 300,000 homes to buy the fight, if it's on Pay-Per-View -and 300,000 homes is clearly generous.

With his career swiftly sailing into oblivion, many fans will sit back and question his career all along. He's only fought six boxers that the casual boxing fan would even recognize in 56 total fights and although he either won or fought to a draw in four out of six (despite clearly being robbed of a decision against Fernando Vargas in 1999), did Winky even have the credentials to be ranked so high on so many pound-for-pound lists in the first place? That's debatable, as it is to label him a future Hall of Famer.

This is not, by any means, an attempt to downplay Winky Wright's career - but to simply question where he went off to and why? It's clear that he still has much work to do in order to be considered a relevant fighter, much less a top fighter like he was just two years ago. It would be in his best interest for him to simply put pride aside and sign to an anticipated rematch against Jermain Taylor. Heck, if he's successful, that might open up the possibility to fight Antonio Margarito at a catch weight in a fight featuring two of the most avoided boxers in the world.

Simply, Winky Wright has two options: make a comeback (quickly because age isn't in his favor), or just officially retire.