GBBC ‘Bad Intentions’ Boxing Card…DeMarcus Corley ‘Chops’ Dexter ‘The Cobra’ Gonsalves title dreams

Aug 29, 2016 Sports

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Richard ‘The Frog’ Holmes stops Mark Austin    

Dexter ‘The Cobra’ Gonsalves spewed venom in the early stages of the bout but DeMarcus `Chop Chop’ Corley applied the right antidote and ‘chopped’ him down to eventually claim a lopsided majority verdict when the two fighters clashed over 12 rounds for the World Boxing Council’s FECABOX lightweight title at the Giftland Office Max Mall, Lilliendaal ECD last Saturday evening.

One fight earlier, Jamaican pugilist, Richard ‘The Frog’ Holmes, brutally stalked Mark Austin before applying a vicious two fisted assault that brutally disposed of the Guyanese to capture the honours in their 8 rounds jnr/middleweight non-title affair.
Austin unwisely chose to mix with Holmes, received a wicked right hand to his temple and down he went. Apparently the referee missed the blow and ruled a slip. Holmes continued in a businesslike fashion and another straight right connected to Austin’s jaw and dumped him on the canvass. He managed to beat the count but just as the Jamaican prepared to pounce the bell sounded.
Holmes wasted few punches in the second round and each blow was delivered with bad intentions. Austin failed to block an especially wicked right hand which crashed into his temple and send him sprawling on the canvass where he remained for the full count at 1:52secs of the second round.
Battling Quincy Gomes in a rematch, Imran ‘Magic’ Khan turned in a much improved performance but failed to avenge an earlier loss in their 6 rounds lightweight shindig. Gomes had promised a second round knockout but a dancing Khan presented a difficult target and Gomes had to settle for a majority decision
The middleweight bout between Barbadian, Charwin Estwick and his Guyanese opponent, Kelsey George, was a virtual one sided affair with the Bajan punching out a unanimous verdict. One fight earlier, Anthony Narine fell to the canvass for the full count after receiving a wicked clout from Keeve Allicock. However, the blow was deemed illegal by the referee who had stepped in to separate the two pugilists after the bell sounded to signal the end of the bout. Narine crashed to the canvass writhing in pain and stayed there for the full count. A subsequent review found Allicock in breach of the rules and Narine was awarded the verdict even as he lay prostrate on his back.
Weighing in at around 3 pounds heavier than his opponent (130.6 as against 133lbs), Corley was pushed on the back foot from the onset as Gonsalves delivered pin point right crosses. It was after one of these attacks that Corley touched canvass. He rose, more surprised than hurt, and was met by several vicious punches that had him on wobbly legs. The American proved his world class ability when he withstood the tide to finish strongly on his legs.
After such a torrid round most boxers would have plopped on their stools during the one minute break. Not Corley, he simply refused the stool opting to stand throughout the intermission in what appeared to be a psychological ploy.
Fighting out of a southpaw stance, Corley commenced the second round with a wicked right hook over Gonsalves’ left guard. The latter fighter retaliated with a two fisted attack as the second round developed into a slugfest with both boxers giving as much as he received.

Gonsalves enjoyed an especially good third round when he pushed Corley backwards before unleashing a wicked straight right that once again dumped Corley on the canvass. A game Corley rose and advanced in an effort to recoup the lost points but Gonsalves stayed ahead with several crunching shots that clearly gave him that round.
Corley responded well in the 4th round with a left hook that shook Gonsalves and caused him to backpedal. Corley pursued him and before the bell had sounded, managed to stitch in several crunching blows and it appeared as though Gonsalves was beginning to lose control of the proceedings.
Notwithstanding, the judges’ score at the end of the 4th stanza placed Gonsalves ahead but also reflected the closeness of the encounter; Carlton Hopkinson had it 39-35 in favour of Gonsalves while Ransford Burton and Owen Nelson also had him ahead, 38-36.
The fight gained momentum in the 5th round when Gonsalves began to mix it up at close range. Not to be outdone, Corley pressed forward and stitched in several well timed right crosses that brought the round back to equilibrium.
Gonsalves looked sloppy, while Corley’s aggression overflowed into the 6th round. The American pugilist built up his points with carefully crafted combinations that culminated with a right hook that landed on Gonsalves’ temple and sent him sprawling on port canvass for the mandatory 8 count. It was a mighty blow and Gonsalves rose on wobbly legs and he still seemed to be in ‘dizzyland’ at the end of the count but the referee ordered the resumption. Corley rushed forward like a bloodthirsty animal but even before he could have delivered a punch, the bell sounded and provided some reprieve for Gonsalves who returned to his corner on wobbly legs.
Realizing that his man was hurt, Corley turned up the heat in the 7th stanza. Though not fully recovered, Gonsalves bravely fought back but Corley upped the ante and pushed his man on the retreat in survival mode. Gonsalves clawed back into contention in the latter stage of the round but Corley ensured that he retained the advantage with several well timed punches.
Corley’s vast experience rose to the fore in the 8th round with some deliberate power punches but Gonsalves took his punishment like a man albeit with several tame responses.  The tide had shifted and at the second evaluation of the scores, at the end of the 8th round, it was Corley who was on top on all three judges’ score cards, 76-74, 75-73 and 75-73.
Maybe on the advice of his handlers Gonsalves changed his mode of attack in the 9th round, opting to stay on the outside with long ranged punches. The ploy worked for a while but Corley was back in the fray in the 10th round with vicious body blows that kept the bout in his grasp.
Corley continued to advance in the penultimate round while Gonsalves, beginning to show the effects of the grueling bout, opted to fight on the outside while landing an occasional right cross. Corley expertly quartered the ring and unleashed a wicked right hook that landed on Gonsalves temple and he immediately held on to stem the flow. As the round wound down Gonsalves seemed to regain some energy and upped the ante with several wicked right crosses. Corley responded with a right hook that landed and discouraged Gonsalves’ aggression and clearly established Corley’s experience and grit.
Realizing that he was on the losing end, Gonsalves attacked from the bell of the last round. He landed a looping left but Corley took the blow and responded with a wicked overhand right that drifted Gonsalves to the ropes. The signs of the torrid battle began to show on Gonsalves’ face and he sported a slight puff to his left eye. Gonsalves battled valiantly but just could not hold off a rampaging Corley who slammed home a wicked overhand right that wobbled his knees and almost floored him. The sweet chimes of the bell effectively relieved Gonsalves from his misery.
Judge Carlton Hopkinson scored the fight a draw, 113 for each boxer while Jamaicans Ransford Burton and Owen Nelson scored a shutdown for Corley, 115-110 and 113-112 respectively.
After the fight, Corley acknowledged Gonsalves’ fighting spirit, “He is a good kid that has demonstrated great determination and skill and I take my hat off to him,” said Corley. He said that he was surprised by the first knockdown since he was more off balanced than hurt. Quizzed on his next fight, Corley stated that while his management team is yet to decide, he plans to immediately return to the ring in preparation for his next bout. In the meantime, Gonsalves returns to the drawing board.

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