By Eric Duran
After enjoying the mega fight festivities this 2 weeks in Vegas, where he has been training for his upcoming fight with the beloved local fighter Manny Perez, Demarcus “Chop Chop Corley” arrived in Denver on Monday, “I thought it was a closer fight then most, scoring it 115-113 for Mayweather” stated Corley. Corley has trained and sparred with Mayweather for the last 10 years, providing a world class sparring partner for the man they call “Money”, “just to see his progression. It was a chess-match, Pacquiao tried to push but Mayweather just kept pop shooting him” said Corley.
With the Mayweather camp now behind him, Corley (42-22-1, 25 KO’s) can now focus on the high altitude of Denver, “I came in early to get adjusted to the thin air. Fighting outside will actually be an advantage, the oxygen levels are different than inside a venue,” stated Corley.
It will be a site of a different scene for Corley, a decorated fighter who has traveled the world, fighting in a parking lot of a strip club. Yet he does so to support his family, “I have 5 daughters I miss very much. I’ve been gone for 2 1/2 months now. They came and visited me on spring break in Vegas,” stated Corley. It’s also a long way from the bright lights of championship fights he’s accustomed to fighting in.
Corley is the former WBO Jr. Welterweight champion. He defeated Felix Flores in 2001 on just 5 days notice. Corley would defend his belt twice before losing a spilt decision to Zab Judah in 2003. It was the last time Corley would hold a major title around his waist. A year later he would drop a lop-sided decision to Floyd Mayweather in a WBC elimination bout. In 2005, Corley was stopped by Miguel Cotto in a title fight for the WBO Jr. Welterweight championship. In 2006 Corley would get another crack at the WBC strap, this time losing to Junior Witter. And finally in 2010, he would lose to Marcos Maidana in a WBA title fight.
Yet, Corley is still determined on winning another title shot, “I want that WBC title,” stated Corley. Recently, he even called Zab Judah out for a rematch on twitter, “I was just trying to promote a big fight. We have since salvaged our relationship,” stated Corley. If one were reading between the lines you would think he was over looking the dangerous Perez, “I’m not looking past Perez at all. A fight with Judah would be big. A win against Perez will open up more doors for me,” proclaimed Corley.
So as a 19 year career comes to a crossroad, even a nasty incident that left him slightly injured, couldn’t derail his plan, “my feet are 90% healed. Come fight night, they’ll be 100%,” stated Corley.
DeMarcus Corley takes on Denver’s Manny Perez on Saturday, May 16th, live at PT’s Showclub in Denver, CO. Tickets can be purchased at www.slabeinc.com.
