June 16: Alex Winwood vs Reyneris Gutierez
Aussie sensation and next-big-thing Alex Winwood may find himself with two regional belts after just three fights come June.
The 25-year-old’s next bout is set for three months' time – looking at the numbers, it’s a big one.
While Winwood has blown past his competition so far at light flyweight, namely former world champion Tibo Monabesa on February 3, a drop down to strawweight could present a trickier task; WBC #9 Reyneris Gutierrez.
The Nicaraguan similarly boasts an undefeated record, not that it phases the young Western Australian.
Despite his preference for discipline and preparation over the bravado you might expect from a boxer, Winwood had one subtle reminder for his next opponent.
“For most of these fights we're gonna be giving up experience. But in terms of the people he’s fought, maybe (they) might not hold too much weight, I guess,” he told the National Indigenous Times.
"I don't feel like I'm out of my depth.
“He’s (Guiterez) obviously got a lot of confidence. He's not used to losing and he's one he's built, and he's still holding it…he’s not going to want to lose it…but I'm the International champion at the heavier weight coming down, so it's gonna be a good matchup.”
The plan is to be a world champion within six fights; one shy of Jeff Fenech's record for the quickest Australian man to the top.
With that comes a strategy for taking names and making one for himself, often against more experience to put himself on the map of those making the big decisions.
It’s something he and renowned trainer Angelo Hyder believes is a pursuit well within reach.
“To be at this stage of my career and already looking out to grab a second WBC belt is just unreal,” Winwood said.
“It's also the path that we need to be on if we want to be as ambitious as we are.
“We're obviously going in the right direction and we've got to take a step up every fight and this is just one of the many people that's gonna try to knock us off our course.
“We’ve just got to lock in and get through this guy and take him at his best ‘cause I’m sure he’s gonna be at his best on the night.”
Even better – doing in front of his home town.
“The crowd is just getting bigger and bigger every every time I fight in Perth,” he said.
“I'm very keen to bring another big fight back there.
“I think they're not used to having such big title fights and they’re only getting bigger and the crowds obviously loving it so they're coming out full force.”
Any reservations on talking himself up are happily left to the men around him.
Winwood’s manager Tony Tolj likened him to “a cross between Roy Jones and Mike Tyson.”
“He knows the sacrifices that are needed to be the absolute best possible…he is a student of greatness and by stepping in with a guy with 21 wins, one loss and world no.13 in his second fight (Monabesa) shows he is not coming to take part.
“He is coming to takeover.”
Alex Winwood faces Reyneris Gutierez for the WBC Strawweight International championship on June 16 in Perth.
Article sponsored by HÖRFA
