LONG LIVE THE KING
By Shawn Darling ringside

INSIDE BOXING (May 23, 2004) - “Pretty Boy” Floyd Mayweather Jr. lived up to the hype and is now the new pound for pound king. Floyd turned in one of his most impressive victories Saturday night against former WBO jr. welterweight champ Demarcus “Chop Chop” Corley. He overcame adversity being rocked a couple of times by Chop Chop to earn an unanimous decision victory.

Always impressive, Mayweather turned pro at 19 after earning a bronze medal at the 1996 Olympics. Then in less than two years as a pro won his first world championship in the WBC jr lightweight division. After eight successful title defenses he moved up to challenge the best at lightweight. There he won the WBC’s lightweight title and defended it three times before relinquishing it to move up once again to the jr welterweight division. (Personally I thought he was moving up too much too soon like Shane Mosley) Floyd proved me wrong and proved he is a force with his power and skills dominating Corley.

The first round Mayweather showed he carried his power up to his new class by rocking Corley several times, buckling his knees. In the second Floyd continued to dominate, slipping and countering Corley at will. The beginning of the third was slow paced until Corley opened up and staggered Mayweather into the ropes. The fourth was the best round by far with Corley continuing where he left off rocking Mayweather until Floyd turned it around hurting Corley. The two finished the round throwing vicious bombs. Floyd got back to business in the fifth dominating the round. In the sixth round Corley went down from what referee, Benji Estevez called a slip and then got a warning for elbowing Floyd. In the seventh Floyd was warned by Estevez for pulling Corley’s head down but continued to land the harder, crisper shots. Finally in the eighth a Corley trip to the canvas was called a knock down and Floyd got his first 10-8 round of the night. The ninth round provided some comic relief for the announced crowd of 6,103 when after another Corley trip to the canvas Mayweather helped pick him up. The crowd roared with approval for the gesture of good sportsmanship. After picking him up in the ninth Floyd knocked Corley back down with a barrage of punches in the tenth. Floyd was so happy with his performance thus far he chose to dance in his corner between rounds instead of sitting. Floyd finished the eleventh and twelfth rounds hurting Corley at will. Corley looked content to go the distance and finished the bout with blood pouring from his mouth. The official scores were 119-107, 119-108, 118-108. (I had it 117-109, 9 rounds to 3 with two knock downs.) With the win Mayweather moves into the number spot to fight WBC champ, Arturo Gatti.