“Chop Chop” Corley chasing
one more world title shot
May 1, 2009
(MAY 1) LAS VEGAS – Former world light
welterweight champion DeMarcus “Chop Chop” Corley is traveling halfway
around the planet in hopes of keeping alive his dream of becoming world
champion once again. Corley, fighting out of Washington D.C., faces
former Brazilian lightweight champion Sidney Siqueira (12-3-1, 7 KOs) in
an 8-round bout May 9 on a star-studded card, headlined by undefeated
light heavyweight sensation Beibut Shumenov against former IBF super
middleweight champion Alejandro “Naco” Berrio, outdoors at Khadjimukan
Stadium in Shumenov’s hometown of Chimkent, Kazakhstan.
The May 9 show, presented by KZ Event Productions, owned by the Shumenov
brothers, Beibut and Chingis, will be taped live for later broadcasts in
North America.
Corley (33-11, 19 KOs) has been on a comeback that took a bump hit this
month when he was outright robbed, losing an 8-round decision to
hometown favorite Hector Sanchez in Arizona.
“It was a great fight,” the slick southpaw Corley said. “I won but I
lost. Everybody who saw it knew I won that fight. My head was down until
I spoke to the promoter, Oscar (De La Hoya), who told me I really won
the fight and he didn’t know what the judges were looking at. I felt
better after that. We knew going in that I had to knockout my opponent
to win. I tried to do that and hurt him, but he kept coming. Fans will
be watching the rebirth of ‘Chop Chop’ on May 9th. I’m a different
fighter today – much more aggressive. The Shumenovs are great promoters.
They run clean shows, no delays. I’m looking forward to fighting on
their show in Kazakhstan. I’m confident of a win and we’ll pick-up from
there because I really want another world title shot. Right now, though,
I’m trying to get somebody to translate ‘Chop Chop’ into Russian for
me.”
The now 34-year-old Corley captured the WBO light welterweight title
eight years ago, topping Felix Flores in the opening round, followed by
two successfully title defenses via 12-round decisions against Ener
Julio and Randall Bailey. Nearly half of DeMarcus’ pro losses have to
world champions such as Floyd Mayweather, Jr., Zab Judah, Miquel Cotto,
Junior Witter and Bailey.
2004 Kazakhstan Olympian Shumenov (7-0, 5 KOs), 2008 WBC Asian Boxing
Council Organization’s Boxer of the Year, is already rated No. 8 by the
WBA, No. 9 by the WBO and No. 16 by the WBC. His WBO Asia Pacific, WBC
Asian Boxing Council and PABA Interim titles will all be on the line, as
well as the vacant IBA world crown, versus Colombian knockout artist
Berrio (28-5, 27 KOs), rated No. 9 by the IBF and No. 11 by the WBC.
Former IBF light middleweight Roman “Made In Hell” Karmazin will fight
at home for the first time in seven years against Luis “Tyson” Augusto
Dos Santos (24-15, 20 KOs) in the 10-round co-feature. Born in Russia,
reigning NABF middleweight title-holder Karmazin (38-3-1, 24 KOs), rated
No. 5 by the IBF and No. 10 by the WBC, was stationed in the military
and later lived in Uralsk, Kazakhstan, where his son, Oleg, still
resides and studies.
Also fighting on the May 9th card is 4-time Uzbekistan National amateur
champion Gayrat Ahmedov (10-0-1, 6 KOs), making his KZ Event Productions
debut, versus WBC Latino and Brazilian title-holder Luzimar “Tiger of
Itacre” Gonzaga (25-4, 20 KOs), in an 8-round light heavyweight match.
The undercard is stacked from top to bottom with undefeated Uzbekistan
light middleweight Ravshan Hudoinazarov (7-0. 5 KOs) vs. Andre Marcos
Nascimento (13-2, 9 KOs), plus Chimkent hometown favorites such as light
middleweight Kanat Orakbaev (2-0, 0 KOs) vs. Umid Soliev (1-1, 0 KOs)
and pro-debuting heavyweight Doszhan Ospanov. All fights and fighters
are subject to change.
