Fairfax, VA (August 21, 2009) – One of the Washington, D.C. area’s all-time great boxers will return to the local scene for the first time in nearly five years when DeMarcus “Chop Chop” Corley (35-11-1, 21 KOs) battles Detroit’s Damian Fuller (30-6-1, 14 KOs) in an explosive, eight-round Co-Main Event on the Jimmy Lange vs. Jonathan Reid-headlining card on Saturday, September 26 at Patriot Center.
The Northeast D.C. native and former WBO light welterweight champion has traveled the globe and competed against the world’s best lightweights such as Floyd Mayweather, Jr., Miguel Cotto, Zab Judah, Junior Witter, Randal Bailey and Devon Alexandria during his professional career that began in 1996. The tough southpaw, who captured the WBO belt with a stunning first-round TKO over Felix Flores on June 30, 2001 in Las Vegas, NV, has won four of his last five fights, recording an eight-round TKO victory over Kenyan James Kimori in Astana, Kazakhstan on August 15, 2009. He has not fought in his hometown area since December 12, 2004 when he defeated Darryll Tyson at the Washington Convention Center.
Corley trains alongside Lange at Don Turner’s boxing camp in Arapahoe, NC. Two of his eight children, 11-year old DeMario and eight-year old DeJon, are following in their father’s footsteps and currently compete as amateur boxers in the D.C. area.
Looking to ruin Corley’s homecoming is the battle-tested Fuller who is looking to snap a two-fight losing streak after going unbeaten in his previous 10 fights over a four-year period. Beltway boxing fans remember the Motor City southpaw when he scored a third-round TKO of Dean White at the Patriot Center in May 2007. Fuller, managed by Jackie “First Lady of Boxing” Kallen of Ice Promotions, has faced world-class competition such as former IBF Junior Welterweight champion Lovemore N’dou and former WBC Lightweight champ Diego Corrales. Highly-regard Tommy Brooks, who has worked with Mike Tyson, Lennox Lewis and Evander Holyfield among others, serves as Fuller’s trainer.
Both fighters are no strangers to one another as each served as a sparring partner for Kostya Tszyu in one of the former WBC light welterweight champion’s camps in Australia.
Presented by Valcourt Building Services, “Saturday Night Fights” features WBC USNBC champion and Northern Virginia fan favorite Jimmy Lange defending his title against former “Contender” teammate Jonathan Reid in the 12-round Main Event. Other beltway fighters slated to compete on the Ice Promotions card include Bayan Jargal, Jennifer “Bolivian Queen” Salinas, and Tony “Mo Better” Jeter. Juan “Savior” Rodriquez suffered an injury and will not fight on the card as originally announced.
Doors open at 6:30pm with the first fight set for 7:30pm. Tickets, priced at $30, $60, $85, $100, $125, $200, $300 and $500 (plus applicable service charges), can be purchased through Ticketmaster by logging onto www.ticketmaster.com, calling 703-573-SEAT, 202-397-SEAT or 410-547-SEAT or by visiting any Ticketmaster outlet, including the Patriot Center box office. Discount tickets are available at LA Boxing gyms in Chantilly, Herndon/Reston and Woodbridge; call 703-263-7629 for details. Visit www.ipboxing.com for event updates and news.