He was born in Elizabeth, New Jersey. Without any amateur fights, 6' 10" Stanley Wright turned professional in June of 1990, and it didn't go as planned, being ko'd in round 2 against New York's Tim Igo.
It was a "streaky" road for Wright who bounced back with a 2nd round tko win of his own over 9-1 Haakan Brock to even up his record at 1-1. He then lost to highly regarded Boris Powell, and followed that loss with a victory over Steve Cross to again even up his record at 2-2.
He then lost 3 in a row and stood at 2-5 as a professional. Wright had heart, and determination. He then ran off a streak of 6 straight wins by knockout. Improving his record to 8-5 and putting him in line for a shot at an undefeated prospect named Peter McNeeley (24-0) for the vacant New England Heavywieght title belt.
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| Stanley Wright scores the upset via tko-8 over unbeaten McNeeley |
Wright lost his next fight against another highly regarded and at the time, unbeaten New England area favorite - Kevin McBride (6-0-1) in a non-title matchup. Wright dropped a 6 round decision to the man who would go on to stop Mike Tyson in 6 rounds ending the career of the legendary "Iron Mike".
Wright was unsuccessful in his first title defense, losing a 10-round decision to Juan Quintana. 2 fights later, Wright avenged that loss, and won his 2nd title belt in the process with a 6th round knockout over Quintana, earning Wright the Massachusetts Heavyweight title.
Stanley Wright won his next fight via 2nd round knockout, and then ended his pro campaign with 4 straight losses, but all of them were against undefeated, world-class opposition. Henry Akinwande (25-0-1) who would go on to win the WBO Heavyweight world title, Michael Grant (11-0), Bobby Harris (15-0), and finishing his pro career being stopped in round 2 by Billy Tompkins (12-0) in Atlantic City, NJ.
Big Stanley always made an impression on boxing fans, and ended his streaky pro career with a final record of 12 wins, 11 losses, and all of his 12 wins came by knockout! That is pretty amazing considering that he entered professional boxing without ANY Amateur pedigree!
An impressive, and action packed career for the man who now calls Portland, Maine home.
Check out his pro ledger on boxrec.com: STANLEY WRIGHT - Line by line pro career
If you would like to see "Big Stanley" Wright in ring action, I have these bouts available on DVD:
1. HENRY AKINWANDE [tko-by-2]
2. MICHAEL GRANT [tko-by-2]
3. BOBBY HARRIS [tko-by-4] (*Missing round 1)
Order Your Copy of:
available on Amazon.com:
Paperback
Kindle (eBook)
Very good article about Big Stanley Wright.what you probably didn't know Stan never had not one amateur fight Wright was an High school All-America basketball player in Portland Maine then on to Roxbury Community College getting his AA degree while playing basketball their,then Big Stan when to Indiana State College to play basketball then overseas to play pro basketball.But more than that Stanley is an better person than he was ever Athlete keep up the your good work
ReplyDeleteI met Stanley the other day up in Maine while on vacation. He is a wonderful, kind and compassionate man. We talked a for about 30 minutes. I hope to go back there next year and perhaps do some fishing with Big Stan!....great American!
ReplyDeleteyour Friend on the white Goldwing Trike
Tony