Williams-Wright Fight Is Finalized

By Lance Pugmire
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com

Promoters Dan Goossen and Richard Schaefer just confirmed to me on the telephone that a 160-pound fight between former world welterweight champion Paul Williams and ex-super-welterweight champion Winky Wright has been finalized for April 11 at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.

HBO will televise the bout, Goossen said.

Williams (36-1, 27 knockouts) last beat Verno Phillips by eigth-round technical knockout in Ontario, and Goossen often refers to the tall left-hander as the most-avoided fighter in boxing.

Wright (51-4-1, 25 KOs) has made the same claim after defeating the likes of Shane Mosley (twice) and Felix Trinidad, but Wright has also been notoriously difficult to come to terms with and he hasn't fought since his July 2007 loss to Bernard Hopkins.

"This gives Paul Williams that name fighter, it puts him up atop the heap as the most preeminent fighter from 147 pounds to 160," Goossen said. "Fighting a guy who's been avoided too gives him a great opportunity to show his dominance again."

Goossen said the fighters will split the purse 50-50, but he declined to say how much money is in the pot.