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In pursuit of his second professional title, Alex Winwood, the undefeated Noongar boxer, has the opportunity to wake up on Saturday morning with two championships under his belt, a remarkable achievement just months after his debut in the professional boxing world. Having already established himself as a prominent figure in the sport through his impressive amateur career and participation in the Olympic Games and Commonwealth Games, the 25-year-old is now determined to make a name for himself on the grand stage.
Winwood fearlessly embraced the challenge of facing more experienced adversaries early on in his professional journey, delivering knockout victories against Indonesian boxers Mario Bunda and Tibo Monabea in his initial two bouts. The latter triumph not only secured his unbeaten record but also earned him the prestigious WBC International Light Fly title. Displaying both skill and resilience, Winwood now returns to his hometown of Perth to face his toughest opponent yet, Reyneris Gutierrez, the reigning WBC Strawweight belt holder from Nicaragua, who boasts an impressive 9-0 record.
"Obviously it's untested territory for me going down to this weight (Straweight), but I've made the weight quite comfortably and it's just a waiting game now until I jump on the scales.
As the weigh-in approaches, Winwood remains composed and focused on maintaining his lean physique rather than resorting to drastic weight-cutting measures. Expressing his confidence in comfortably making the Strawweight limit, he patiently awaits the moment he steps onto the scales. Prior to his upcoming fight, Winwood had the privilege of training alongside the Moloney twins, Jason and Andrew, in Las Vegas, where he felt at ease in the presence of boxing's elite. Aware of the accelerated path he is on, Winwood revealed that he caught the attention of his fellow athletes, saying,
In his pursuit of becoming the fastest Australian to win a world title, Winwood acknowledges that he may have to sacrifice experience to his opponents. Mario Fenech currently holds the record, achieving this feat in just six fights. With a few fights left before he reaches that milestone, Winwood maintains a humble demeanor that does not overshadow his unwavering self-assurance in the face of Friday's challenge. Confident in his superior attributes such as strength, speed, and knowledge, he acknowledges that his opponent may possess experience but boldly declares, "He can have the experience. I'm gonna have everything else." Winwood has his sights set on claiming the belt, firmly stating, "He's got the belt today, but tomorrow I'll take it off his hands."
Having dismissed any concerns about his Nicaraguan opponent, Winwood enters the ring with a clear strategy guided by self-belief, adaptability, and simplicity. While light-heartedly joking about punching his opponent in the face, he emphasizes that his game plan will revolve around maneuvering himself wherever he needs to be in the ring to secure victory. Winwood intends to test Gutierrez's body before aiming for a knockout blow, all the while maintaining respect for his adversary. Acknowledging that Gutierrez will attempt the same, Winwood asserts that the better man will emerge victorious, exhibiting unwavering confidence in himself throughout the bout.
Having dismissed any concerns about his Nicaraguan opponent, Winwood enters the ring with a clear strategy guided by self-belief, adaptability, and simplicity. While light-heartedly joking about punching his opponent in the face, he emphasizes that his game plan will revolve around maneuvering himself wherever he needs to be in the ring to secure victory. Winwood intends to test Gutierrez's body before aiming for a knockout blow, all the while maintaining respect for his adversary. Acknowledging that Gutierrez will attempt the same, Winwood asserts that the better man will emerge victorious, exhibiting unwavering confidence in himself throughout the bout.
"I'll punch him in the face," he joked before laying out the plan.
"Wherever I need to be in that ring is where I can get myself."
"We're gonna test his body and once his body breaks then we're going to take his head off, with all due respect to him.
"I know that he's going to do the same to me.. Or try to, but it's gonna be the best man to win and back myself the whole way."
The highly anticipated matchup between Winwood and Gutierrez will take place at Metrocity in Perth on Friday night, where the Noongar boxer will have the opportunity to showcase his skills and determination in front of his hometown crowd.
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Photo Courtesy National Indigenous Times
Courtesy National Indigenous Times
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