I recently had a chance to speak to former WBO light welterweight champion, DeMarcus ‘Chop Chop’ Corley to discuss his future and his current role inside Floyd Mayweather Jr’s training camp. DeMarcus has fought the best of the best in his career having stepped in the ring with Floyd Mayweather Jr, Miguel Cotto and many others. Corley, now 40 years old, hopes to have one final run at a world title.
In this interview, Corley speaks on his next bout and what direction he would like to go in if he can win it. He also speaks on being in the camp of Floyd Mayweather and what he expects to happen when Mayweather finally meets Manny Pacquiao in the ring. Additionally ‘Chop Chop’ gives his views on Keith Thurman and some other big upcoming fights. Here is what DeMarcus Corley had to say.
Robert Brown: You’re coming off of a couple of wins recently, how are you doing at the moment?
DeMarcus Corley: I’m out here in Las Vegas training, getting Floyd prepared for his upcoming fight with Manny Pacquiao. I’m also getting prepared for my upcoming fight with Manuel Perez out of Denver, Colorado.
Robert Brown: When’s your fight coming up?
DeMarcus Corley: My fight is May 16th.
Robert Brown: Training with Floyd must have you extremely confident for your fight?
DeMarcus Corley: Yes, very confident. I’m looking forward to great sparring and building my hand speed up by training with Floyd Mayweather.
Robert Brown: What do you feel your strengths will be going up against your opponent?
DeMarcus Corley: My strengths going up against Manny: I’m a veteran fighter, he hasn’t fought no one like me besides Victor Ortiz and he got knocked out in the third round by him. I’m very quick and loose on my feet, I have too many advantages over him. The only thing he has is Denver, Colorado — the high altitude, you got to factor that in.
This fight is for a title, it’s for the WBF lightweight title at 135lbs and after I win this title, we’re looking to defend it right back in June and hopefully we’ll get a title shot for the WBC Silver title, that’s gonna be vacant because Kevin Mitchell out of the UK has that title right now but he’s fighting Jorge Linares, who’s the WBC gold champion.
Robert Brown: How is Floyd looking at the moment? Do you think he’s looking for the knockout against Manny Pacquiao?
DeMarcus Corley: I feel from me looking in, I really feel he’s looking for the knockout in the later rounds, from his performance and work.
Robert Brown: Can you shed some light on those rumors that Zab Judah knocked Floyd down in sparring?
DeMarcus Corley: Oh my God, where did that rumor come from? I keep hearing that. Zab sparred Floyd one time since he’s been here, and no, he did not knock Floyd down at all.
Robert Brown: In your opinion, who’s got more on the line in this fight? For Floyd to keep his reputation, does he have to thoroughly dominate or possibly destroy Pacquiao to preserve his legacy?
DeMarcus Corley: No not really, he’s gonna dominate the fight regardless of how the fight plays out. He’s gonna beat Manny Pacquiao eight rounds out of twelve, easily.
Robert Brown: So you feel Floyd will win by at least eight rounds to four?
DeMarcus Corley: Yes, eight rounds to four. Floyd will win the fight.
Robert Brown: Lamont Peterson will fight Danny Garcia, do you think this is a dangerous fight for Garcia?
DeMarcus Corley: I wouldn’t say it’s a dangerous fight. Lamont is not a dangerous person to be in the ring with. We’re from the same city and he’s not a dangerous person to be in the ring with, it’s not a dangerous fight for Danny Garcia.
It’s gonna be a great fight if Lamont can stick to the gameplan and box Danny Garcia, but if Lamont doesn’t box Danny and he tried to get into a shootout, the fight is going to be cut short. I’d put my money on Danny. I think if it goes the distance, Lamont’s gonna win but Danny can’t let it go the distance, he has to close the gap, put pressure on Lamont and make him fight.
Robert Brown: What are your thoughts on Saul Alvarez vs. James Kirkland?
DeMarcus Corley: I heard a lot about James Kirkland and his previous fights when he was trained by Anne Wolfe, he always comes to fight and puts on a great performance and wins. The rumor is that he doesn’t have Anne Wolfe in his corner anymore and every time he has lost, she wasn’t in his corner.
I don’t know how this fight is gonna play out with her not being there — and I don’t think her being there would help him anyways because Canelo is a dangerous fighter and I don’t think Kirkland is ready for the type of fighter that Canelo is.
Robert Brown: Bryant Jennings is going to fight Wladimir Klitschko, do you give Jennings any chance in this fight?
DeMarcus Corley: I give Bryant a great chance, he just has to be first and stay close, don’t fight at a distance with Klitschko because he’s a range finder, he wants to keep that distance and drop that big right hand. Jennings has to stay close and let his hands go and maybe he can land a big right hand because we know Klitschko doesn’t have a good chin.
Robert Brown: Keith Thurman recently had a good win against Robert Guerrero, where would you like to see Thurman go next?
DeMarcus Corley: Fight another B class fighter because that’s what he is. He’s a B class fighter so he continues to fight B class fighters. He doesn’t need to step his game up, so he’ll eventually get beat by somebody who has better skills than him. They need to keep matching him with guys who are on his level. He’s not ready for the elite or the Pay-Per-View stage yet.
Robert Brown: You think he’ll eventually get exposed if he steps up against a world class opponent?
DeMarcus Corley: One hundred percent. Who are the champions at 147lbs besides Manny Pacquiao?
Robert Brown: There’s Kell Brook, do you think he has the ability to beat him?
DeMarcus Corley: That’s who he needs to fight, someone who’s on his level. Kell Brook is on his level.
Robert Brown: Do you think if Thurman fought Amir Khan that he would lose to Khan?
DeMarcus Corley: He’ll lose to Khan and Khan is not a PPV fighter either but Khan has a lot of hand speed but he doesn’t take a great punch. That will be a good fight for him to get a knockout if he catches Khan. You know who they should let him fight? Thurman and the Shawn Porter, they should fight each other.
Robert Brown: Freddie Roach has been hyping the fight like he always does, he believes Floyd’s legs are shot and the biggest advantage Manny will have are his legs. You’ve been in camp with Floyd, how have his legs been and do you think that will be an advantage for Manny at all?
DeMarcus Corley: He’s moving great, he doesn’t move like he’s 38 years old. He has great legs and he looks good.
Robert Brown: If Floyd gets past Manny, he technically has one fight left on his contract. Do you think if he achieves what he wants to achieve in this fight that he’ll retire or do you think he’ll go on and fulfill his obligations?
DeMarcus Corley: Truthfully, I don’t know. I don’t know how he’s gonna feel after he beats Manny Pacquiao, I can’t answer that.
he hired people who he associates with PEDs or PEDs convicted peddler and wants a friendly drug testing agency. Floyd wins because of PEDS!!
He gave mayweather confident…:)
“confidence” not “confident”, hoss.
I cant see how floyd can win this fight, convince me. Manny is a volume puncher, and his percentage of hitting his opponent is close to floyd’s. Manny throws twice as much power punches than floyd. So without any knockout, how can floyd possibly win by points? Explain cuz i am about to wage my bet. Floyd can only win by knockout but how can he do that against manny who is also elusive in the ring, and besides floyd has not knocked down anybody for a long time same as manny
Floyd wins by decision if he takes away Manny’s strength according to what he disclosed his plan would be. He could win by knockout if Manny becomes careless. To produce both results, it would take good power coming from Floyd. That is why he hired Memo Heredia to focus on his power training. As to how powerful he would be, we shall see on May 2. Floyd and Pacquiao couldn’t KO their opponents becuz the opportunity didn’t present itself or that their power were not enough.
Brother man don’t do it that’s a bad idea, for a few reasons, the first being nobody has ever won betting against mayweather they are hyping this fight up, but in reality Manny will be nothing more then a nuisance mayweather is too big,fast,and smart he’s fought many of guys looking to pressure,guys a lot bigger then Manny also Manny will throw volume and miss most like everyone while getting countered to death by the highest connect rate fighter there is…BTW its not that mayweather doest have power,its more he tends to sit on his punches due to his bad hands remember he has connected on over 50 percent of his punches over 47 fights…I believe he’s going all out and everyone will see an amazing display of boxing leaving no doubt who’s #1….outside the ring I can give two shits,but inside the ring how on earth do u bet against the dude
This kind of assessment is absolutely hilarious. If Corley thinks that Pacquiao is like him in style and punches then i think he and Floyd Jr. will have to spar 24/7 just to figure out the Pacman. Floyd’s days of being undefeated are numbered already, and on May 2nd the true king will ascend the throne by knockout. MAYWEATHER CAMP could say whatever they want because Pacquiao will kill him on fight night. Everybody knows whats in there in Floyd’s camp. Heredia, Ariza, Corley, these are all peds strategists and they know they cant win the fight without drugs. Whatever the outcome will be, Pacman remains greater than Floyd both inside and outside the squared circle.
So since you’re saying Ariza is dirty now that he is working with Floyd, then it’s safe to say to Ariza was dirty when working with Pac all those years getting that knockout power that has now vanished for some reason now that Ariza is gone. You Pac fans kill me with your double standards. You all know deep down inside Pac was dirty back then, hell he ain’t even the same size anymore. Go figure that one out
it’s MEMO that’s dirty, stupid.
How can you win a puncher that can kills with his blows? How can you win to a focused boxer? How can you win to a boxer whose fights dedicated to the boxing world and not just for money?,How can you win to a very down to Earth person whose mind is to give lessons to a boastful one? HOW CAN YOU WIN TO A GIFTED? HOW CAN YOU WIN AGAINST THE MESSIAH OF BOXING? we, on the underdog side never really had a doubt…MORE BLOODS OOZING TO A FACE THAT NEVER SEEN BEFORE AND MUCH GRUESOME THAN OF MARGARITO.
Yup just hope floyd wont have a nervous breakdown before the fight after may 2 hve a breakdown thats alright the fight is done
Floyd’s best days are over.!!..Since 2007 after the Hatton fight he’s not the same boxer anymore..JMMs fight was a fraud..Ortiz fight was a fraud..He fought those two to make him looked good inside the ring..He cant hide no more..He can run yes but that’s over now…Time to face the real one!!…
BWAHAHAHA….floyd can knockout pacquiao??? When was the chicken knockout his opponent??? Are you dreaming? or you just holding the balls of the chicken to give him more confidence to fight night? this is the most idiotic, moronic and hilarious comment of a former boxer wahahaha. STFU dude 😛
Mayweather will win, However, Floyd will eat a lot of leather on May 2, 2015 in his hometown MGM Las Vegas Why? Guerrero, Maidana Alvarez,Ortiz Cotto those are all guys that they called molasses boxer were able to penetrate remarkable number of punches in his armored shell, so do as Pacquiao 8 times faster than these above mentioned boxers. Mayweather will win if he is able to out-numbered Pacquiao on punching volume as well as lucky punch as Marquez did. if not, for sure pillow punch Mayweather will be colored barbecue( not black and blue you will not see it) if he will not pulled the upset.
Somebody needs to give Floyd a little push so he wont back out.
Floyd is a scaredlycat pu$$y!!!!!!!!