Rick Wilson Interview: Junior Wright versus Marlon Hayes at Heavyweight in Detroit
By Robert Brizel, Head RCM Boxing Correspondent
In an exclusive interview with Real Combat Media, trainer Rick Wilson announced his fighter, Chicago cruiserweight contender Junior Anthony Wright, promoted by Dmitriy Salita’s Star of David Promotions, will face faded heavyweight Marlon ‘Ramblin’ Man’ Hayes at the Royal Oak Theater in Detroit Friday night, August 15, 2014, in a fight which will go at the heavyweight limit of 200 pounds and up, with a set catch weight of 208 pounds. 195 to 210 pounds is the unofficial super cruiserweight division weight class, which still exists in some minor organizations.
At 43 years of age, Hayes, 23-14 with 11 knockouts, Newark, New Jersey, is a modern day version of what Buck Smith became in the previous generation when he moved up in weight. Hayes opened his career, fighting at 160 to 176 pounds, at 20-0 with 11 knockouts from 1996 to 2001. Hayes then lost to Robert Allen by second round stoppage in an attempt to win the USBA and NABF Middleweight titles. From that point on, his career was never the same, going 3-13 from 2002 to 2014. He had one bright spot, a 12 round decision win for the vacant NBA Cruiserweight title in January 2007. After a four and a half year retirement, Hayes returned and has fought and lost four bouts at heavyweight.
Wright, 10-0, nine knockouts, nicknamed ‘Hurricane’, is coming off a controversial ten round draw in May 2014 with Stivens Bujaj for the vacant WBC International Cruiserweight title, a belt now held by Ilunga Makabu of South Africa. At age 28, Wright is currently ranked eleventh in the United States on BoxRec. Wright is scheduled to fight again at cruiserweight against southpaw KamarahPasley at the Millenium Theater in Brighton Beach Brooklyn on promoter DmitriySalita’s next boxing card on September 18, 2014.
Real Combat Media: “Why this sudden fight for Junior Wright, Rick?”
Rick Wilson: “This is a stay busy fight. This guy (Marlon Hayes) is a class journeyman. He’s not that easy to knock out. The contract is for 208 pounds. Then we come back on September 18 (to Brooklyn) to fight Kamarah Paisley.”
Real Combat Media: Best wishes for a successful fight in Detroit for Junior on Friday night.”
Real Combat Media: “Hayes has fought Deontay Wilder, Danny Santiago, ElvirMuriqi, Robert Stieglitz, Vadim Tokarev, and some other notable names.”
Rick Wilson: Hayes fought current southpaw WBC world light heavyweight champion Adonis Stevenson and took him eight rounds (seven years ago in August 2007).”
Real Combat Media: “How did your camp cross paths with Hayes?”
Rick Wilson: Our promoter Dmitriy Salita’s wife is from Detroit, and we used to train out at (the famed) Kronk Gym, so we have connections in the Detroit area.”
Real Combat Media: “You want to move Wright and keep him active now.”
Rick Wilson: “We’re trying to get him fights. Hayes is an experienced, classy fighter. Wright will come in at 203 pounds. There’s nobody standing in line to fight him now, so it’s not cost effective to find him fights after fighting Bujaj. We used to star with heavyweight Mike Mollo and did very well, so I’m confident Junior can hold his own at heavyweight.”
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