Ronald Lamont “Winky” Wright (born November 26, 1971) is an American former professional boxer who competed from 1990 to 2012. He is a two-time light middleweight world champion and was the last to hold the undisputed title at that weight until Jermell Charlo in 2022. In his later career he also challenged for a unified middleweight world title. He announced his retirement from boxing in 2012, following a loss to Peter Quillin.
In 2005, The Ring magazine ranked him as the world’s second best active boxer, pound for pound. In 2017, it was announced that Wright had been elected as an International Boxing Hall of Fame member in the Modern Category, alongside Vitali Klitschko and Érik Morales, with the induction ceremony scheduled for June 2018. Wright is known for the use of the high guard and is widely considered one of the greatest defensive boxers of all time.
BoxRec-style profile
- Birth name: Ronald Lamont Wright
- Born: November 26, 1971 — Washington, D.C., U.S.
- Nationality: American
- Height: 5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
- Reach: 73 in (185 cm)
- Stance: Southpaw
- Pro debut: Oct 16, 1990 (Win by UD vs Anthony Salerno)
- Last bout: Jun 2, 2012 (Loss by UD vs Peter Quillin)
- Total rounds boxed: 403 (summed from the bout table below)
- Divisions: Welterweight, Light middleweight, Middleweight, Light heavyweight
- KO percentage: 49.0% (25 KO wins in 51 wins)
- Titles held (major, with reign dates): WBO light middleweight title May 17, 1996 – August 22, 1998 (won from Bronco McKart; defended against Ensley Bingham, Steve Foster and Adrian Dodson; lost to Harry Simon); IBF light middleweight title October 12, 2001 – November 20, 2004 (won the vacant title from Robert Frazier; four defenses; added the WBA (Unified), WBC and The Ring light middleweight titles on March 13, 2004 against Shane Mosley and defended them in the rematch, his last title bout in the table) — all dates per the bout table
Record at a glance
- Total bouts: 58
- Wins: 51
- Wins by KO: 25
- Losses: 6
- Losses by KO: 0
- Draws: 1
- No contests: 0
- Born: November 26, 1971 — Washington, D.C., U.S.
- Nationality: American
- Height: 5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
- Reach: 73 in (185 cm)
- Stance: Southpaw
- Divisions: Welterweight, Light middleweight, Middleweight, Light heavyweight
Fight-by-fight record
| No. | Date | Opponent | Result | Method | Round/Time | Venue / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oct 16, 1990 | Anthony Salerno | Win | UD | 4 | Hyatt Regency, Tampa, Florida, U.S. |
| 2 | Nov 28, 1990 | Christopher Conrad | Win | TKO | 1 | Hyatt Regency, Tampa, Florida, U.S. |
| 3 | Dec 14, 1990 | Tony Graham | Win | TKO | 2 | Diplomat Resort & Spa, Hollywood, Florida, U.S. |
| 4 | Jan 25, 1991 | Stedroy Bolus | Win | TKO | 3 (4) | Diplomat Resort & Spa, Hollywood, Florida, U.S. |
| 5 | Mar 29, 1991 | Glenn Major | Win | RTD | 3 (6), 3:00 | Convention Center, Tampa, Florida, U.S. |
| 6 | Jul 26, 1991 | Lorenzo Bouie | Win | UD | 6 | Hyatt Regency, Tampa, Florida, U.S. |
| 7 | Aug 13, 1991 | Rocky Fabrizio | Win | UD | 6 | Hyatt Regency, Tampa, Florida, U.S. |
| 8 | Aug 30, 1991 | Edison Martinez | Win | TKO | 1 (6), 1:46 | Marriott’s World Center, Orlando, Florida, U.S. |
| 9 | Sep 17, 1991 | Jeff Johnson | Win | UD | 6 | Marriott’s World Center, Orlando, Florida, U.S. |
| 10 | Oct 18, 1991 | Glenn Major | Win | TKO | 2 (6) | USF Sun Dome, Tampa, Florida, U.S. |
| 11 | Nov 15, 1991 | Gary McCall | Win | RTD | 1 (6), 3:00 | USF Sun Dome, Tampa, Florida, U.S. |
| 12 | Dec 13, 1991 | Lennell Strohman | Win | UD | 6 | USF Sun Dome, Tampa, Florida, U.S. |
| 13 | Feb 28, 1992 | Persephone Van Reenen | Win | TKO | 3 (6), 1:22 | USF Sun Dome, Tampa, Florida, U.S. |
| 14 | Mar 27, 1992 | Mike Howard | Win | TKO | 4 (8) | USF Sun Dome, Tampa, Florida, U.S. |
| 15 | May 28, 1992 | Delfino Marin | Win | TKO | 1 (10), 2:07 | USF Sun Dome, Tampa, Florida, U.S. |
| 16 | Jul 30, 1992 | Carlos Santana | Win | TKO | 2 (10), 2:53 | Hyatt Regency, Tampa, Florida, U.S. |
| 17 | Jan 2, 1993 | Darryl Lattimore | Win | TKO | 1 (8), 2:31 | Differdange, Luxembourg |
| 18 | Jan 31, 1993 | Roland Commings | Win | UD | 8 | Levallois-Perret, France |
| 19 | Mar 20, 1993 | Eric Holland | Win | UD | 8 | Philips Halle, Düsseldorf, Germany |
| 20 | May 28, 1993 | James Stokes | Win | KO | 1 (8), 1:20 | Charlotte County Memorial Auditorium, Punta Gorda, Florida, U.S. |
| 21 | Aug 21, 1993 | Leon Rouse | Win | KO | 1 (8) | Salle des Etoiles, Monte Carlo, Monaco |
| 22 | Oct 16, 1993 | Gilberto Barreto | Win | TKO | 2 (10) | Palais des sports Marcel-Cerdan, Levallois-Perret, France |
| 23 | Dec 4, 1993 | Tony McCrimmion | Win | TKO | 5 | Palais des sports Marcel-Cerdan, Levallois-Perret, France |
| 24 | Mar 19, 1994 | Armando Herrera | Win | KO | 1 (8) | Palais des sports Marcel-Cerdan, Levallois-Perret, France |
| 25 | Jun 4, 1994 | Orlando Orozco | Win | TKO | 1 (8) | Palais des sports Marcel-Cerdan, Levallois-Perret, France |
| 26 | Aug 21, 1994 | Julio César Vásquez | Loss | UD | 12 | Jai Alai, Saint-Jean-de-Luz, France — ★ Title fight — For WBA light middleweight title |
| 27 | Nov 11, 1994 | Ernesto Rafael Sena | Win | RTD | 2 (10), 3:00 | Club Caja Popular, San Miguel de Tucumán, Argentina |
| 28 | Feb 4, 1995 | Tony Marshall | Win | UD | 12 | Palais des Sports, Castelnau-le-Lez, France — ★ Title fight — Won vacant NABF light middleweight title |
| 29 | Apr 1, 1995 | Anthony Ivory | Win | PTS | 8 | La Palestre, Le Cannet, France |
| 30 | Apr 11, 1995 | Leon Cessiron | Win | PTS | 6 | Palais des sports Marcel-Cerdan, Levallois-Perret, France |
| 31 | Jul 25, 1995 | Larry LaCoursiere | Win | TKO | 1 | Saint-Jean-de-Luz, France |
| 32 | Aug 23, 1995 | Anthony Ivory | Win | UD | 12 | La Palestre, Le Cannet, France — ★ Title fight — Retained NABF light middleweight title |
| 33 | Oct 23, 1995 | Young Dick Tiger | Win | TKO | 9 (10) | Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S. |
| 34 | Jan 6, 1996 | Jean Paul D’Alessandro | Win | UD | 8 | Palais des sports Marcel-Cerdan, Levallois-Perret, France |
| 35 | Mar 5, 1996 | Andrew Council | Win | UD | 12 | Scope, Norfolk, Virginia, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained NABF light middleweight title |
| 36 | May 17, 1996 | Bronco McKart | Win | SD | 12 | Stock Arena, Monroe, Michigan, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Won WBO light middleweight title |
| 37 | Nov 9, 1996 | Ensley Bingham | Win | UD | 12 | NYNEX Arena, Manchester, England — ★ Title fight — Retained WBO light middleweight title |
| 38 | May 3, 1997 | Steve Foster | Win | TKO | 6 (12), 2:52 | NYNEX Arena, Manchester, England — ★ Title fight — Retained WBO light middleweight title |
| 39 | Dec 19, 1997 | Adrian Dodson | Win | TKO | 6 (12), 3:00 | London Arena, London, England — ★ Title fight — Retained WBO light middleweight title |
| 40 | Aug 22, 1998 | Harry Simon | Loss | MD | 12 | Carousel Casino, Hammanskraal, South Africa — ★ Title fight — Lost WBO light middleweight title |
| 41 | Mar 27, 1999 | Derrick Graham | Win | KO | 3 (12) | Jai-Alai Fronton, Miami, Florida, U.S. |
| 42 | Dec 4, 1999 | Fernando Vargas | Loss | MD | 12 | Chinook Winds Casino, Lincoln City, Oregon, U.S. — ★ Title fight — For IBF light middleweight title |
| 43 | Sep 9, 2000 | Bronco McKart | Win | UD | 12 | Mountaineer Casino Racetrack and Resort, Chester, West Virginia, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Won NABF and vacant USBA light middleweight titles |
| 44 | Dec 16, 2000 | Keith Mullings | Win | UD | 12 | David L. Lawrence Convention Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained NABF and USBA light middleweight titles |
| 45 | Oct 12, 2001 | Robert Frazier | Win | UD | 12 | Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, Indio, California, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Won vacant IBF light middleweight title |
| 46 | Feb 2, 2002 | Jason Papillion | Win | TKO | 5 (12), 2:44 | American Airlines Arena, Miami, Florida, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained IBF light middleweight title |
| 47 | Sep 7, 2002 | Bronco McKart | Win | DQ | 8 (12), 2:33 | Rose Garden, Portland, Oregon, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained IBF light middleweight title |
| 48 | Mar 1, 2003 | Juan Carlos Candelo | Win | UD | 12 | Thomas & Mack Center, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained IBF light middleweight title |
| 49 | Nov 8, 2003 | Ángel Hernández | Win | UD | 12 | Mandalay Bay Events Center, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained IBF light middleweight title |
| 50 | Mar 13, 2004 | Shane Mosley | Win | UD | 12 | Mandalay Bay Events Center, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained IBF light middleweight title; Won WBA (Unified), WBC, and The Ring light middleweight titles |
| 51 | Nov 20, 2004 | Shane Mosley | Win | MD | 12 | Mandalay Bay Events Center, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained WBA (Unified), WBC, and The Ring light middleweight titles |
| 52 | May 14, 2005 | Félix Trinidad | Win | UD | 12 | MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. |
| 53 | Dec 10, 2005 | Sam Soliman | Win | UD | 12 | Mohegan Sun Arena, Montville, Connecticut, U.S. |
| 54 | Jun 17, 2006 | Jermain Taylor | Draw | SD | 12 | FedExForum, Memphis, Tennessee, U.S. — ★ Title fight — For WBC, WBO, and The Ring middleweight titles |
| 55 | Dec 2, 2006 | Ike Quartey | Win | UD | 12 | St. Pete Times Forum, Tampa, Florida, U.S. |
| 56 | Jul 21, 2007 | Bernard Hopkins | Loss | UD | 12 | Mandalay Bay Events Center, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. — ★ Title fight — For The Ring light heavyweight title |
| 57 | Apr 11, 2009 | Paul Williams | Loss | UD | 12 | Mandalay Bay Events Center, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. |
| 58 | Jun 2, 2012 | Peter Quillin | Loss | UD | 10 | Home Depot Center, Carson, California, U.S. |
Titles & notes
Major title reigns (start–end): WBO light middleweight title May 17, 1996 – August 22, 1998 (won from Bronco McKart; defended against Ensley Bingham, Steve Foster and Adrian Dodson; lost to Harry Simon); IBF light middleweight title October 12, 2001 – November 20, 2004 (won the vacant title from Robert Frazier; four defenses; added the WBA (Unified), WBC and The Ring light middleweight titles on March 13, 2004 against Shane Mosley and defended them in the rematch, his last title bout in the table) — all dates per the bout table
- Aug 21, 1994 vs Julio César Vásquez: For WBA light middleweight title
- Feb 4, 1995 vs Tony Marshall: Won vacant NABF light middleweight title
- Aug 23, 1995 vs Anthony Ivory: Retained NABF light middleweight title
- Mar 5, 1996 vs Andrew Council: Retained NABF light middleweight title
- May 17, 1996 vs Bronco McKart: Won WBO light middleweight title
- Nov 9, 1996 vs Ensley Bingham: Retained WBO light middleweight title
- May 3, 1997 vs Steve Foster: Retained WBO light middleweight title
- Dec 19, 1997 vs Adrian Dodson: Retained WBO light middleweight title
- Aug 22, 1998 vs Harry Simon: Lost WBO light middleweight title
- Dec 4, 1999 vs Fernando Vargas: For IBF light middleweight title
- Sep 9, 2000 vs Bronco McKart: Won NABF and vacant USBA light middleweight titles
- Dec 16, 2000 vs Keith Mullings: Retained NABF and USBA light middleweight titles
- Oct 12, 2001 vs Robert Frazier: Won vacant IBF light middleweight title
- Feb 2, 2002 vs Jason Papillion: Retained IBF light middleweight title
- Sep 7, 2002 vs Bronco McKart: Retained IBF light middleweight title
- Mar 1, 2003 vs Juan Carlos Candelo: Retained IBF light middleweight title
- Nov 8, 2003 vs Ángel Hernández: Retained IBF light middleweight title
- Mar 13, 2004 vs Shane Mosley: Retained IBF light middleweight title; Won WBA (Unified), WBC, and The Ring light middleweight titles
- Nov 20, 2004 vs Shane Mosley: Retained WBA (Unified), WBC, and The Ring light middleweight titles
- Jun 17, 2006 vs Jermain Taylor: For WBC, WBO, and The Ring middleweight titles
- Jul 21, 2007 vs Bernard Hopkins: For The Ring light heavyweight title
Record source: Wikipedia professional boxing record table (cross-checked against the bout list), retrieved 2026-11-01.
