Boxers: Shane Mosley, Winky Wright, and Antonio Margarito announce retirements.

This month has brought on an onslaught of news from the sport of boxing. Timothy Bradley's controversial win over Manny Pacquiao, along with Floyd Mayweather Jr's jail sentence have been stories that have dominated the headlines in boxing. Three well known fighters also announced their retirements from the sport of boxing during this month. "Sugar" Shane Mosley, Winky Wright, and Antonio Margarito all announced that they were hanging up the gloves from the sport of boxing. I'm going to point out some of their notable opponents, and also some of the controversies that have surrounded them. Please read on...

Shane Mosley officially announced his retirement on June 4, 2012. Known by his nickname "Sugar Shane", Mosley was a champion in three different weight divisions. Mosley is probably most known for his two victories over Oscar De La Hoya, and his two victories over Fernando Vargas. Mosley also fought former Olympian, Vernon Forrest twice. Mosley would go on to lose both bouts against Forrest. He also faced Winky Wright twice, and lost both of those fights by decision. Although he was known as one of the more nicer and respectable fighters in boxing, Mosley was also linked to a controversy involving performance enhancing drugs. Mosley admitted to inadvertently using steroids before his 2003 fight against Oscar De La Hoya. Despite the admission, Mosley's career continued on. Mosley stepped into the ring in 2009 to face Antonio Margarito at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. Considered to be over the hill by many critics, and coming into the fight a 4-1 underdog, Mosley defeated Margarito by technical knockout in the 9th round. Mosley gained the WBA Welterweight Championship, and would later call out Floyd Mayweather Jr. Mosley got what he asked for and faced Mayweather on May 1, 2010. Mosley almost knocked out Mayweather in the second round, but went on to lose by unanimous decision. This was the fight that his age started to show in my opinion. Later on in 2010, Mosley faced Sergio Mora at the Staples Center. After 12 rounds of boxing, the contest was ruled a draw. In May of 2011, Mosley faced Manny Pacquiao at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Mosley was knocked down in the third round, but managed to continue fighting. After feeling Pacquiao's power, Mosley seemed unwilling to engage Pacquiao, and would go on to lose a twelve round unanimous decision. Mosley got his final chance to prove himself as an elite fighter when he faced Saul "Canelo" Alvarez on the undercard of "Ring Kings", which featured Miguel Cotto vs. Floyd Mayweather Jr as the main event on May, 5 2012. At the age of 40, Mosley was looking to defy the odds, but was overpowered and over matched by the 21 year Alvarez. Alvarez would win by unanimous decision. Mosley would announce his retire almost a month later. Mosley's finishes his career with a record of 46 wins(39 by KO), 8 losses, 1 draw, and 1 no contest. Mosley says he wants to get into promoting fights, and be a mentor to his son Shane Mosley Jr, who is also a boxer. Mosley has come out of retirement and was scheduled to fight Paulie Malignaggi, but due to financial terms, the fight didn't come to fruition.

Ronald "Winky" Wright announced his retirement on June 4, 2012. Wright was born in Washington, DC, but was raised in St. Petersburg, Florida. Some of the notable opponents that Wright have faced include: Bernard Hopkins, "Sugar" Shane Mosley, Paul Williams, Felix Trinidad, and Jermain Taylor. Wright was known for his tight guarded defense, and his effective jab. Wright had spent the latter part of the decade fairly inactive. He lost to Bernard Hopkins in 2007 via unanimous decision. Almost two years following his fight with Hopkins, Wright would step into the ring and face Paul Williams. At the time Williams was considered to be the most avoided fighter in the sport of boxing. The younger Williams dominated Wright over twelve rounds and won by unanimous decision. Wright's last fight took place almost three years after his defeat to Williams. Wright faced Peter Quillin on the Antonio Tarver vs. Lateef Kayode card on June 2, 2012. Quillien knocked Wright down in the sixth round, and would go on to defeat Wright by a unamious decision. Wright announced his retirement two days following the fight. Wright finishes his career with a record of 51 wins(25 by KO), 6 losses, and 1 draw. Wright currently has his own promotion company called, "Winky Wright Promotions". It appears that he will be getting into promoting fights now that his boxing career is over.

Antonio Margarito announced his retirement from boxing on June 7, 2012. Margarito was known for his aggressive fighting style, and his iron chin. Margarito is a former WBO, IBF, and WBA Welterweight Champion. Notable opponents that Margarito faced include: Paul Williams, Kermit Cintron, Miguel Cotto, Shane Mosley, and Manny Pacquiao. Although Margarito will always be celebrated by fans for his heart and his style of boxing, he will also probably be remembered as being a cheater also. Margarito came under fire in 2009 before his fight with Shane Mosley. Before the fight began, Mosley's trainer, Nazeem Richardson spotted a pasty white substance in Margarito's hand wraps. This substance has been given the name "Plaster of Paris". Margarito's hands were re-wrapped and the fight was allowed to go on. Unfortunately for him, Mosley would go on to win the fight by technical knockout. Although Mosley won the fight and regained some lost momentum on his career, the biggest story from the fight was Margarito being regarded by many as being a cheater following the hand wrap incident. Margarito was banned from boxing in the United States for a year following his fight with Mosley. However, he was allowed to fight in the United States on November 12, 2010 at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Margarito stepped into the ring to face Manny Pacquiao on this date. Although Pacquaio was much shorter and physically smaller than Margarito, Pacquiao used his speed and quick hands to put a beating on Margarito. Margarito suffered a right orbital bone fracture on his right eye, which required surgery following the fight. Margarito's last fight was a rematch against Miguel Cotto on December 3, 2011. Margarito first faced Cotto in 2008, and won the fight by technical knockout in the 11th round. However, Cotto went on to win the rematch by TKO after doctors stopped the fight before the 10th round. The stoppage was due to Margarito's worsening eye injury. Antonio Margarito ends his career with a record of 38 wins(27 by KO), 8 losses, and 1 no contest.

I can't really say that hearing of these three boxers announcing their retirement from the sport surprises me too much. With the exception of Antonio Margarito(age 34), Mosley and Wright are both 40 years old. Although Shane Mosley is one of my favorite boxers, it's been past time for him to retire. Myself along with many others had noticed his speech slurring a bit, plus his face looked puffy and different from when he was in his prime. Mosley always carried himself like a gentlemen, which is something that is missing in the sport of boxing. I'll miss watching his fights. Winky Wright's inactivity is what I think was his demise. He didn't look particularly bad against Peter Quillen, but he did look old. He had a great career though. Antonio Margarito's eye problems is why I'm not surprised at his retirement. Although Margarito will be remember for his toughness in the ring, I do feel that his legacy will be tarnished after getting caught with the plaster. At any rate, I wish them all the best in their future endeavors.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shane_Mosley#Personal_life

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antonio_Margarito_vs._Miguel_Cotto_II

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antonio_Margarito

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/more-sports/shane-mosley-admits-balco-steroids-article-1.247541

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2009/feb/11/antonio-margarito-boxing-gloves-ban

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winky_Wright#Life_outside_the_ring