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'I want US$25K to face Mullings'

Published:Thursday | January 11, 2018 | 12:00 AMLeroy Brown/Gleaner Writer
Demarcus 'Chop Chop' Corley

American boxer Demarcus 'Chop Chop' Corley, the 2016 Contender Welterweight champion, has declared that he is prepared to fight Jamaica's Sakima 'Mr Smooth' Mullings, the 2017 Contender Middleweight winner anywhere, anytime for the right price.

Corley was responding to a recent article in which Mullings called him a coward for not agreeing to fight him in Jamaica next month.

"That is a joke," Corley told The Gleaner. "I do not fear any boxer in Jamaica in my weight class, and I will fight Mullings at 140 pounds or less, anywhere, anytime - if the price is right."

Corley said he was offered US$7,000 to fight Mullings next month and he refused the offer because it was unacceptable to him.

"I fought in the Contender and won J$2 million, I took an easy fight after that for US$5,000, and then they wanted me to fight a man who is much bigger than me, is also a Contender champion, and who fights at junior middleweight for US$7,000. That is crazy! I agreed to fight him at 140, knowing that on fight night, he will be much heavier than me anyway, but for that, I have to be paid."

BIG FIGHT, BIG MONEY

Asked by The Gleaner how much he would accept, he said it would have to be at least US$25,000.

"A fight against Sakima would be a big fight, and if they want it, then they have to pay for it. The promoters must get creative. Do a pay-per-view and charge US$15 or do a Facebook fight. That is popular now. Get sponsors and pay us what we are worth, since they think that this is a fight that the public wants to see," he added.

Corley said he has a fight scheduled

for February 10 in Philadelphia against Henry Lundy.

"I am being paid US$25,000 for that fight, yet they wanted me to fight in Jamaica for US$7,000. Tell me, would that make any sense?" he queried. "At my age - I am now 43 - it will take either money or a title to get me into the ring. The other problem I am having is that promoters do not want to put their young fighters against me, because they fear the outcome. I would like to win another title," said the former World Boxing Organisation (WBO) super lightweight champion, "but getting a title fight now is very difficult", he added.

Apart from the purse money he will earn on February 10, he said the fight will be broadcast and televised widely, and that exposure means a lot to him.

He then gave a parting shot: "I am willing to dance with Mullings in March, at 140 or less, but the price has to be right. Let us get down like James Brown."