Shane Mosley vs. Winky Wright, billed as War at 154,[1] was a professional boxing match contested on March 13, 2004, for the undisputed light middleweight championship.
[2] After his controversial decision victory in his rematch with Oscar De La Hoya, to win the WBA, WBC, The Ring and lineal light middleweight titles, Shane Mosley agreed a $7 million deal to face Ricardo Mayorga.
[4] Instead Mosley agreed to face IBF champion Ronald "Winky" Wright for the undisputed 154 pound title (in only his third bout at the weight), with the prospect of a $10 million fight against former 3-division champion Félix Trinidad in September if he should beat Wright, with Mosley quoted as saying "I promised myself and my fans that from now on, I would only take career-defining fights.
At the end of 12 rounds, Judges Dave Moretti and Chuck Giampa scored it 117–111, while Paul Smith had it 116–112 all in favor of Wright.
Shane has speed but I was better all around" Mosley defend his decision to take the fight and risking the big payday against Trinidad saying "It was not a mistake.
Mosley graciously claimed that Wright was now one of the best fighters in the world saying "It's not just Sugar Shane, De la Hoya and Trinidad anymore.
Just over a month after the bout Wright was stripped of the IBF title after refusing to fight mandatory challenger Kassim Ouma and instead accepting a rematch with Mosley.