A Dec. 11 fight scheduled for San Juan's Coliseo de Puerto Rico between former world champion, Winky Wright, and, journeyman, Grady Brewer, has been canceled, Brewer said in a statement released by his publicists today."I still am a bit shocked the show was canceled by the promoter [San Juan City Knockout] in Puerto Rico, but I want to make it perfectly clear it was not because I asked for millions of dollars to fight," said Wright (51-5-1, 25 knockouts), a southpaw who turned 38 on Nov. 26 and had planned to end an eight-month layoff by meeting Brewer (26-11, 15 KOs) as a middleweight (160 pounds).
"We had done everything possible to make this show come together, and I knew the financial considerations I needed to make in order for it to happen," said Wright. "Unfortunately now this is not the case, and I will look to find another alternative so I can fight as soon as possible."
Brewer, who will turn 39 on Dec. 22, has won eight consecutive fights, inlcluding first- and, second-round knockouts of his past two opponents in May and August.
Wright twice defeated current world champion, Shane Mosley, as a junior middleweight (154 pounds) in 2004, and then followed that up with a rise to middleweight (160) for a one-sided, May, 2005, unanimous decision over former world champion and Puerto Rican great, Felix Trinidad.
Wright is 1-1-2, however, since beating Sam Soliman in December of 2005.
In succession, Wright battled Jermain Taylor to a disputed draw, dominated former world champion, Ike Quartey, and lost unanimous decisions to Bernard Hopkins and Paul Williams.
"I am really disappointed the show can't happen as I was training very hard and really wanted to get back in the ring," said Wright, a former WBC, WBA and IBF junior middleweight (154 pounds) champion. "I was so looking forward to fighting in Puerto Rico in front of all the Puerto Rican people who are boxing fanatics and really know and appreciate the sport."
In an interview last month, Wright told FanHouse that he hoped to fight, primarily, at 154 pounds, but that his dream matchup would be against WBC and WBO middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik (35-1, 31 KOs).
"I'm a 154-to-160-pounder. Really, I'm trying to fight at 160, maybe once or twice.If I can't get Kelly Pavlik, then I may go down to 154 and do what I've got to do -- fight people my size," Wright told FanHouse.
"I hope that we can work something out so that I will be fighting in the early part of 2010, as I am anxious to use all the hard work and training I have already put in for this show," said Wright in the statement released by his publicists. "I just hope everyone has a great holiday season, and look for me to fight again soon after the New Year."
