12.05.07 – By Scott Frake: De Marcus Corley (31-6-1, 17 KO’s), the former WBO light welterweight champion, was shockingly stopped in the 8th round by unheralded Nicaraguan fighter Jose Alfaro (18-3, 17 KOs) at the Pharaohs, in Managua, Nicaragua on Saturday night. Corley, 32, knocked Alfaro down in the 1st round, after landing a powerful left hand. However, instead of going after him, Corley failed to follow up with any meaningful punches. As it turns out, Corley probably wished he had gone all out and finished him in the 1st, because as the fight progressed, Alfaro unleashed a vicious body attack that sapped the energy out of Corley’s aging body.
Rounds two and three were close, with both fighters landing big shots. Alfaro landed some excellent straight right hands, and left hooks to the body that got Corley’s attention early on.
Starting in the fourth round, Alfaro suddenly turned it up and notch, attacking Corley at will. It didn’t help Corley that he was still being very selective with his punches, rarely letting his hands go.
In the sixth round, Alfaro hit Corley with a scorching right hand that knocked him backwards towards to ropes. Alfaro followed after him and landed and combination to the head, a left hook to the body, which sent Corley in retreat. Alfaro caught up with him again, and landed right to the head, and then a left to the body, the knocking Corley to the canvas. He got up and finished the round but was taking punishment the whole time, mostly huge body shots.
In round seven, Alfaro was penalized one point for a low blow by the referee. There was no warning, however, and it was the first low blow I’d seen Alfaro throw up to that point in the fight. Nevertheless, it didn’t matter to him, as he immediately pressed on with his brutal attack, and shortly after, Alfaro knocked Corley down once more, this time with another left hook to the body. The round ended moments later, much to Corley’s relief, because he probably wouldn’t have made it out of the round if there were a little more time for Alfaro to go after Corley’s body.
The end came quickly in the eighth round, when Alfaro caught up with Corley and landed another left hook to the body, in the exact same spot as the other two knockdown blows, sending Corley to the canvas for the final time. The referee immediately halted the fight, despite Corley’s complaints about wanting to continue.
Corley has now lost five of his last eight bouts since 2003.