Former WBO World champion DeMarcus “Chop Chop” Corley will attempt to become a two-time world champion on May 29 in Washington D.C., when he fights for the vacant Universal Boxing Organization light welterweight crown on a show promoted by Garcia Staley Sr. and his Titanium Promotions. A true veteran, Corley, 36-13-1 (21), turned pro in Washington in 1996 after winning the Golden Gloves amateur championships the previous year, and went undefeated through his first eighteen paid fights before dropping a split decision to Daniel Lujan three years later..
He came back strong and racked up another eight impressive victories, including a twelve-round decision over Columbian Ener Julio to lift the USBA belt, before winning his first world title in 2001 when he stopped Puerto Rico’s Felix Flores in one round at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.
Corley stepped in with just five days notice, and put on a marvellous display, knocking Flores down twice to make referee Jay Nady stop the fight and declare “Chop Chop” new WBO king.
After two successful defences against former world champions Ener Julio, who had gone on to become champ after loosing to Corley in 1999, and Randall Bailey, Corley came up short against former IBF-holder Zab Judah, loosing a split decision, and his title, in July 2003.
Two failed attempts to become a two-time champ, against Miguel Cotto (WBO) and Junior Witter (WBC), followed, but Corley hasn’t given up yet, and will be looking to make it third-time-lucky on May 29 in his hometown.
Victories over names such as Flores, Bailey, Julio (twice) and former IBF/WBC world title-challenger Darryl Tyson, as well as high-profile bouts against, Judah, Cotto, Witter, Devon Alexander and pound-for-pound great Floyd Mayweather Jr., has made Corley one of the major names in the 140 Lb. division over the last 10 years. The UBO will be proud to see him fight for our world title!
Titanium Promotions hope to announce a quality opponent for Corley in the near future.
Javontae Starks Forced to Pull out of April 2 Bout, Aims for May Return
Minneapolis, MN- Minnesota’s top junior middleweight prospect and former national champion Javontae Starks(3-0 3 ko’s) suffered the first setback of his career this month when he was forced to pull out of his bout with Bobby Kliewer(10-9 6 ko’s) on April 2.
Starks suffered a back injury while training alongside stablemate and former amateur elite Jamal James,who will make his pro debut April 2. Although disappointed with the cancellation Starks plans to return to the ring in May, and remains open whatever fight that is brought to the table, including Kliewer.
“I’ve fought the best in the world I’ve trained with the best and been recognized as the best, I’m not afraid of any fight” Starks noted.
Starks insists the injury will not remain a problem for much longer, and feels he could have fought, but the risk was just too great at this stage of his career.
“I feel like I could have fought and won, but it’s how I want to win that’s important this early in my career”
Starks and his team aim to return to training during the first week of April, and hope to take to the ring as soon as possible, a date in late May the most likely scenario.
Javontae Starks is expected to be on hand April 2 to support close friend Jamal James, and Midwest Sports Council stablemate Jeremy McLaurin in their bouts. The card is headlined by the long awaited rematch between Matt Vanda and Andy Kolle for the Minnesota State Middleweight title. Tickets are available at grandcasinomn.com.
Starks trains at the Circle of Discipline Gym in Minneapolis alongside fellow celebrated amateur Jamal James. Under the direction of trainer Sankara Frazier Starks aims to put his home state of Minnesota on the boxing map. After capturing National and regional titles in the amateur ranks, he made his professional debut in late 2009.
With an undeniable will, and professional level skills Starks aims to become a beacon of hope for Minnesota fight fans.
Dirrell/Abraham Replay Tonight; Super Six World Boxing Classic News & Notes
NEW YORK (March 29, 2010) — Four fights into the Super Six World Boxing Classic on SHOWTIME®, there has been a little bit of everything—except a unanimous decision. In fact, so far there have been a pair of major upsets and no two results have been the same. There has been a knockout (Arthur Abraham over Jermain Taylor), a split decision (Carl Froch over Andre Dirrell), a technical decision (Andre Ward over Mikkel Kessler) and a disqualification (Dirrell over Abraham) in a fight on Saturday that will replay TONIGHT/Monday on SHOWTIME 2 at 10 p.m. ET/PT.
One constant through all three Group Stage 1 bouts and the first of three Group Stage 2 encounters: Hometown fighters have been victorious each time (Froch, Abraham, Ward and Dirrell).
If Abraham had triumphed on Saturday, he would have clinched a spot in the tournament semi-finals. As it stands, all the fighters remain in serious contention to win the tournament and the inaugural Super Six World Boxing Classic Cup.
Programming Note: Episode 5 of the critically acclaimed FIGHT CAMP 360°: Inside The Super Six World Boxing Classic will premiere Saturday, April 7, on SHOWTIME at 10 p.m. ET/PT.
The 30-minute episode will take viewers behind the scenes at the Dirrell-Abraham fight – from fight week tensions between promoters and camps through Saturday’s hotly contested bout. It will include footage and interviews with Dirrell at the hospital and Abraham after the fight, reaction from the boxers’ promoters, a discussion of the fight itself and a look ahead to the next match featuring Carl Froch vs. Mikkel Kessler for the WBC World Championship, Saturday, April 24.
SUPER SIX WORLD BOXING CLASSIC SCOREBOARD
Record Fighter Points
1-1 Arthur Abraham 3
-1 Andre Dirrell 2
1-0 Carl Froch 2
1-0 Andre Ward 2
0-1 Mikkel Kessler 0
0-0 Allan Green 0
For information on all SHOWTIME Sports telecasts, including exclusive behind-the-scenes video and photo galleries from its events and complete information on the Super Six World Boxing Classic, please visit the website at http://www.sports.sho.com
ABOUT SUPER SIX WORLD BOXING CLASSIC
The inaugural Super Six World Boxing Classic is a ground-breaking, six-fighter tournament from SHOWTIME Sports® featuring the class of the super middleweight (168-pound) division from around the world. All bouts in the Super Six tournament will be contested under the Unified Rules of Boxing. Each boxer fights three bouts against different opponents in the field in the points-based Group Stage of competition (Win – 2 pts with a 1-pt bonus for KO/TKO; Loss – 0 pts; Draw – 1 pt.). After the Group Stage, the four fighters with the highest point totals will advance to the single-elimination Semi-Finals. The winners of the Semi-Final bouts will advance to the Finals and fight for the inaugural Super Six World Boxing Classic Cup.
About Showtime Networks Inc.
Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), a wholly-owned subsidiary of CBS Corporation, owns and operates the premium television networks SHOWTIME®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ and FLIX®, as well as the multiplex channels SHOWTIME 2™, SHOWTIME® SHOWCASE, SHOWTIME EXTREME®, SHOWTIME BEYOND®, SHOWTIME NEXT®, SHOWTIME WOMEN®, SHOWTIME FAMILY ZONE® and THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ XTRA. SNI also offers SHOWTIME HD®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ HD, SHOWTIME ON DEMAND® and THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ ON DEMAND. SNI also manages Smithsonian Networks, a joint venture between SNI and the Smithsonian Institution. All SNI feeds provide enhanced sound using Dolby Digital 5.1. SNI markets and distributes sports and entertainment events for exhibition to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis through SHOWTIME PPV®