Jerry Glick reporting from ringside: There is still some life in the old man yet as former WBO Junior-welterweight belt holder DeMarcus “Chop Chop” Corley, 37 years old and on a six fight losing streak turned back formerly undefeated Gabriel “Tito” Bracero in his bid to add a name opponent to his win column. Tito was dominated by Corley who took a unanimous ten round decision.
Bracero, the 30 year old reformed street kid who lost six years of his life and career in prison, had run his record to 18 in a row without a loss when he took on Corley who had seen his best days years ago. Bracero’s problem was that on this night the old champ rolled back the clock. He was fast, clever, accurate and in total control. He had the Puerto Rican, now living in Brooklyn, NY, down in the second, third, and fifth rounds. In round two the veteran southpaw landed a left that opened a bloody gash on Tito’s right eyebrow that bled off and on throughout. His next combination ended with a right that had Bracero on his back in a corner. Bracero was lucky that there were only a few seconds left in the round. He was lucky again in the third, when he was decked in the same spot, it happened at the same point of time in the round so he survived in spite of being in very bad shape; and it was a straight left to the head that turned the trick for Corley for the fifth round knockdown.
Bracero scored a knockdown of sorts in the eighth when he hit Corley knocking him off balance causing him to touch the canvas with his glove prompting referee Eddie Claudio to administer an eight count.
Washington, DC resident, DeMarcus “Chop Chop” Corley was supposed to be just the ticket for a rising prospect like Bracero. Tito was going to pick up the win and tons of much needed skills from the veteran of 57 fights. Instead the former champ succeeded in screwing up those well laid plans and earned the votes of all three Judges as Kevin Morgan and Frank Lombardi agreed 94-92, while Judge Carlos Ortiz Jr. scored it 96-90, for a unanimous decision on the DiBella Entertainment show at the Roseland Ballroom in New York City.
Corley, 38-19-1 (22 KOs), takes home the NABF Junior-welterweight strap and a win to end his six fight tailspin to the likes of Marcos Rene Maidana and Lucas Martin Matthysse.
THE UNDERCARD
In his first fight since losing to WBO Cruiserweight Champion Marco Huck, Ran Nakash, 200, Tel Aviv, Israel, 17-1 (10 KOs), won a unanimous six round decision over a game but inept Derek Bryant, 196, Philadelphia, PA, 20-7-1 (17 KOs). Stocky Nakash had little trouble breaking through his opponent’s weak defense to take the eight round decision with a score of 80-72 across the board.
Rising star Luis Orlando Del Valle, 122, Bayamon, PR, 15-0 (11 KOs), had all he could handle while winning an eight round decision by scores of 80-72, 79-73, and 78-74, over journeyman Jose Angel Beranza, 122, Mexico City, Mexico, 34-22-2 (26 KOs). Beranza is a spoiler who beat formerly unbeaten Chris Martin in his last fight. This may have inspired him because he fought like a man who was expecting lightning to strike twice, but not on this night; he did well but after a good first round, Del Valle took command with his speedier hands and better boxing. Schiavone refereed.
Alex Perez, 146, Newark, NJ, 15-0, (9 KOs), crushed Josh Sosa, 144 ½, Leavenworth, KS, 10-1 (5 KOs), in two impressive rounds. Sosa went down in the first from southpaw Perez’ right hooks to the body and head. Perez is tall and fights that way using his reach to his advantage in the second. His jab kept Sosa in trouble then a right hook dropped him again. Sosa was stopped when referee Shada Murdaugh saw that he was in bad shape when he got up at 1:39 of the second round.
Unbeaten Seanie Monaghan, 175, Long Beach, NY, 12-0 (8 KOs), won a hard fought eight round pier six over rugged Billy Bailey, 176, Bakersfield, CA, 11-14 (4 KOs). I’m not sure if Bailey came to fight or to entertain because he did a lot of both. He taunted the popular New York Irishman, stuck his chin out, he smiled at him, laughed, and generally turned a boxing match into a street fight with benefits.
Monaghan was cut on the left eye in the second and Bailey walked into a right that put him down and into bad shape in the same round. It was a wild swinging affair. The Judges all gave it to Monaghan by scores of 80-71 twice and 79-72. Schiavone refereed.
If there ever was a fight that deserved to be a draw this was it. Danny McDermott, 142, North Bergen, NJ, 9-3-2 (4 KOs), and Terry Buterbaugh, 140, Colorado springs, CO, 6-6-3 (3 KOs), exchanged punches, rounds, and the lead, and the judges scored it accordingly, 59-55 once for Buterbaugh, once for McDermott, and one Judge had it even at 57-57 as did this reporter.
Unbeaten female heavyweight boxer and school teacher Sonya Lamonakis, 222, New York, NY, 6-0-1, (1 KO), was gifted a draw by the Judges against Carlette Ewell, 208, Winston-Salem, NC, 15-7-1 (0 KO). It appeared to this observer that Ewell was the aggressor who was in charge most of the time throwing more of the punches often trapping Lamonakis on the ropes and throwing punches. That’s not to say that Lamonikis didn’t have her moments, but Ewell just had more of them. The Judges scored it as follows, 58-56 each, and 57-57, even. Harvey Dock refereed.
Boyd Melson, 155, New York, NY, 7-0 (3 KOs), came out fast throwing bombs to the body and head of Sean Rawley Wilson, 154 ½, Omaha, NE, 5-6 (1 KO) winning a unanimous six round decision by a score of 60-54.
Thomas Hardwick, 218, Yonkers, NY, 4-0 (2 KOs), tried hard to get his knockout win but Richard Mason. 201 ½, Brentwood, NY, 0-3, was just too durable and would not cooperate. He was a survivor managing to run with the punches that Hardwick threw at him. The unanimous four round win for Hardwick was scored 40-36 by all three Judges. Schiavone refereed.
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