"I just hope he comes to be the dog like he says because if he's trying to be the dog and I'm coming in as the Pit Bull we're going to see who the bitch is."

GL: I recently spoke to Bernard Hopkins and he had quite a bit to say about what's going to happen to you on July 21. Are you aware of some of Bernard's recent remarks? "Whatever he needs to say to get himself motivated is cool with me, I hear some of the things that he's saying and a lot of them don't make any sense. He's talking about he's going to stop me? (laughs) I mean, I ain't never been stopped, but when was the last time he stopped anybody for real? What's he stopping?"

GL: Bernard said your career is coming to an end on July 21, how do you feel about that?

Winky Wright: "I'm glad he feels that way but on the real, the only thing that's coming to an end on July 21 is his reign as light heavyweight champion.  It's like I told you on July 21 the executioner gets executed. He's one and done. After I'm done with him I'll give him a rematch, but only if he comes to fight like he's talking. With me the fans know what they're going to get, they're going to get me coming at him throwing as many punches as I can. I just hope he comes to be the dog like he says because if he's trying to be the dog and I'm coming in as the Pit Bull we're going to see who the bitch is."

GL: Whoa. So I'm sure you're not going to want to hear about how Bernard said that if he doesn't knock you out you're going to wish you were knocked, but there's also a chance you might quit on the stool or snatch the towel from Dan's hand to throw in yourself.

WW: "There's no quit in Winky Wright. I ain't never quit in my life. I ain't never quit on my fans and my team is the same team I had around me from day one so I ain't never quit on them either.

GL: In other words, you've never quit on your trainer?

WW: (laughs) "Exactly."

GL: You've been telling me that this fight is going to be like Hagler-Hearns, but some people are having a hard time seeing that based on your styles. Can you explain why you feel that way?

WW: "I feel that way because no matter what he says and no matter what I say the bottom line is we're two of the best fighters of this era. I know what I need to do to beat him and I'm coming to fight. I don't plan on taking any backwards steps. He's going to come to win the fight so when he sees how I'm bringing he's not going to have no choice but to fight back or get blown out and Bernard's got some heart so I'm expecting him to fight back. That's why I think it's going to be a classic."

GL: There was talk about the fight happening in Atlantic City, are you pleased it's taking place in Las Vegas?

WW: "Definitely. Definitely. He was trying to make it happen in Atlantic City, but I wasn't going for that. This is a fight that belongs in Vegas and believe me I'm coming to make it hotter than it's already gonna be out there at the end of July."

GL: What did you think about Calzaghe's performance last weekend?

WW: "I ain't get to see the fight but I heard he won and that they stopped the fight too quickly. It didn't really matter though because he was in there with a tough young fighter, but the dude had no chance against Calzaghe. "

GL: Is there anything you'd like to say in closing?

WW: "I want to thank all of my fans for showing me love everywhere I go. Keep it locked to Boxingtalk and my boy Greg Leon he's going to give you the exclusive straight from your boy wherever I'm at."

M

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