MARCOS MAIDANA vs DeMARCUS 'CHOP CHOP' CORLEY

Two of Marcos Maidana’s last three fights were on HBO but he is back home in Argentina on Saturday and  a prohibitive favourite to defeat DeMarcus “Chop Chop” Corley in their junior welter title fight.
 
This is really just a showcase for Maidana in front of an Argentinean crowd. Corley, 36, stopped Damian Fuller in four rounds in July, which was a nice bounce-back win after Corley’s knockout loss in the fifth round against the much bigger Freddy Hernandez when he was stepping up to welter. Before this, Corley was outhustled by stocky swarmer Fariz Kazimov in Russia, although a case could be made that Corley deserved to win that bout with his cleaner punches.
 
Corley has blown hot and cold in recent years. He has talent and speed but he can take rounds off as he seeks to conserve energy, and when he meets the stronger, heavier handed types he can look a bit vulnerable.  Corley can still box well, though — his fight with Hernandez was even going into the fifth round, but then the Mexican boxer landed a big right hand.
 
With the 140-pound division looking extremely lively, Maidana can fit in nicely against any of the champions: Amir Khan, Devon Alexander or Timothy Bradley. A stoppage win over Corley would look good on his record because Chop Chop, although faded, is still a recognisable name.
 
With his southpaw stance and smart moves, Corley can give Maidana some problems initially, but one wonders for how long.
 
Maidana has stopped 18 of his last 19 opponents and brings the pressure and heavy-handed body punching that could break down Corley by the middle rounds. This fight could be similar to Corley’s eighth-round stoppage defeat against Jose Alfaro in Nicaragua three years ago, when he couldn’t keep his stronger opponent at bay. I can see Maidana overpowering Corley any time after the start of round six.