Marlon Starling (born August 29, 1959)[2] is an American former professional boxer who competed from 1979 to 1990. He held the WBA welterweight title from 1987 to 1988 and the WBC welterweight title from 1989 to 1990.[3]

Marlon Starling
Born (1959-08-29) August 29, 1959 (age 65)
Other namesMagic Man
Statistics
Weight(s)
Height5 ft 8 in (173 cm)[1]
Reach74 in (188 cm)[1]
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights52
Wins45
Wins by KO27
Losses6
Draws1

Professional boxing career

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Starling was born in Hartford, Connecticut in 1959. He got his start with help from coach, Johnny Duke, who helped him train for the national Junior Olympics championship. He turned professional in 1979. After 25 straight wins to start his professional career, he lost his first fight, a 12-round split-decision to Donald Curry in 1982. Starling had a rematch with Curry in 1984, challenging for the WBA and IBF welterweight titles. Starling lost by a 15-round decision. Starling's fighting style features what is referred to as a high guard.

Starling's second world title fight came in 1987. He knocked out Mark Breland in the 11th round to win the WBA welterweight title. In his third title defense, Starling lost the title in controversial fashion to Tomas Molinares. Molinares hit Starling with a punch that was thrown around the same time as the bell sounded to end round six. Starling went down for the only time in his career, and the referee counted him out. Molinares was declared the new champion by knock out. However, the decision was later changed to a no contest but the Colombian kept the title.

In 1989, Starling knocked out Lloyd Honeyghan to win the WBC welterweight titles. The following year, Starling challenged Michael Nunn for the IBF middleweight title, but lost by decision.[4] In his next fight, Starling lost his welterweight titles in a close decision to Maurice Blocker. That was Starling's last fight. He retired with a record of 45-6-1-1 (27 KOs).

Professional boxing record

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53 fights 45 wins 6 losses
By knockout 27 0
By decision 18 6
Draws 1
No contests 1
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Age Location Notes
53 Loss 45–6–1 (1) Maurice Blocker MD 12 Aug 19, 1990 30 years, 228 days Bally's Hotel & Casino, Reno, Nevada, U.S. Lost WBC welterweight title
52 Loss 45–5–1 (1) Michael Nunn MD 12 Apr 14, 1990 30 years, 228 days Mirage Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. For IBF middleweight title
51 Win 45–4–1 (1) Young Kil Jung UD 12 Sep 15, 1989 30 years, 17 days Civic Center, Hartford, Connecticut, U.S. Retained WBC welterweight title
50 Win 44–4–1 (1) Lloyd Honeyghan TKO 9 (12),
1:19
Feb 4, 1989 29 years, 159 days Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. Won WBC welterweight title
49 NC 43–4–1 (1) Tomás Molinares NC 6 (12),
3:10
Jul 29, 1988 28 years, 335 days Convention Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. WBA welterweight title at stake;
Originally KO for Molinares;
NC after declared the punch landed after the bell
48 Draw 43–4–1 Mark Breland SD 12 Apr 16, 1988 28 years, 231 days Hilton Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. Retained WBA welterweight title
47 Win 43–4 Fujio Ozaki UD 12 Feb 5, 1988 28 years, 160 days Convention Center, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. Retained WBA welterweight title
46 Win 42–4 Mark Breland TKO 11 (15),
1:38
Aug 22, 1987 27 years, 358 days Township Auditorium, Columbia, South Carolina, U.S. Won WBA welterweight title
45 Win 41–4 Norberto Bueno KO 3 (10),
1:49
Jun 5, 1987 27 years, 280 days Civic Center, Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.
44 Win 40–4 Pedro Vilella UD 10 Feb 18, 1987 27 years, 173 days Civic Center Assembly Hall, Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.
43 Win 39–4 Roberto Mendez TKO 4 (10),
1:42
Oct 30, 1986 27 years, 62 days Civic Center, Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.
42 Win 38–4 Dexter Smith KO 5 (10) Sep 19, 1986 27 years, 11 days Bulkeley High School, Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.
41 Loss 37–4 Johnny Bumphus TD 6 (12) May 18, 1986 26 years, 262 days Civic Center, Providence, Rhode Island, U.S. Lost USBA welterweight title;
Accidental headbutt
40 Win 37–3 Ralph Twinning TKO 7 (10) Apr 6, 1986 26 years, 220 days Americana Congress Hotel, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
39 Win 36–3 Leo Davis KO 2 (10),
0:51
Jan 24, 1986 26 years, 148 days Civic Center, Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.
38 Win 35–3 Simon Brown SD 12 Nov 22, 1985 26 years, 85 days Sands Casino Hotel, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. Retained USBA welterweight title
37 Win 34–3 Reggie Miller UD 10 Aug 7, 1985 25 years, 343 days Atlantis Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
36 Win 33–3 Floyd Mayweather Sr. UD 12 Apr 26, 1985 25 years, 240 days Tropicana Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. Retained USBA welterweight title
35 Loss 32–3 Pedro Vilella MD 12 Jun 15, 1984 24 years, 291 days Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. Lost NABF welterweight title
34 Win 32–2 Lupe Aquino UD 12 Apr 17, 1984 24 years, 232 days Playboy Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. Retained USBA and NABF welterweight titles
33 Loss 31–2 Donald Curry UD 15 Feb 4, 1984 24 years, 159 days Ballys Park Place Hotel Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. For WBA and inaugural IBF welterweight titles
32 Win 31–1 Bob Graddy KO 3 (10),
2:09
Nov 26, 1983 24 years, 89 days Civic Center, Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.
31 Win 30–1 Sammy Rookard TKO 5 (10) Nov 10, 1983 24 years, 73 days Civic Center Coliseum, Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.
30 Win 29–1 Tommy Ayers MD 12 Jul 24, 1983 23 years, 329 days Showboat Hotel & Casino, Sports Pavilion, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. Retained USBA and NABF welterweight titles
29 Win 28–1 Kevin Howard UD 12 Apr 23, 1983 23 years, 237 days Civic Center Coliseum, Hartford, Connecticut, U.S. Won vacant USBA and NABF welterweight titles
28 Win 27–1 Jose Baret KO 4 (10) Feb 5, 1983 23 years, 160 days Sands Casino Hotel, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
27 Win 26–1 Manuel Madera KO 3 (10),
0:42
Jan 7, 1983 23 years, 131 days Civic Center Coliseum, Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.
26 Loss 25–1 Donald Curry SD 12 Oct 23, 1982 23 years, 55 days Convention Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. Lost USBA welterweight title;
For NABF welterweight title
25 Win 25–0 Inocencio De la Rosa UD 10 Sep 10, 1982 23 years, 12 days Civic Center Coliseum, Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.
24 Win 24–0 Kevin Morgan TKO 1 (12),
2:06
Jul 17, 1982 22 years, 322 days Felt Forum, New York City, New York, U.S. Won USBA welterweight title
23 Win 23–0 Babilah McCarthy TKO 9 (10),
0:44
Jun 5, 1982 22 years, 280 days Civic Center Coliseum, Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.
22 Win 22–0 Ricardo Raul Camoranesi KO 3 (10),
2:42
Apr 23, 1982 22 years, 237 days Coliseum, New Haven, Connecticut, U.S.
21 Win 21–0 Jose Luis Santana KO 1 (10),
3:05
Mar 22, 1982 22 years, 205 days Civic Center Coliseum, Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.
20 Win 20–0 Danny Paul UD 10 Jan 29, 1982 22 years, 153 days Civic Center, Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.
19 Win 19–0 Jack Morrell TKO 2 (10),
1:51
Aug 28, 1981 20 years, 365 days Felt Forum, New York City, New York, U.S.
18 Win 18–0 Juan Hidalgo TKO 5 (10),
0:42
Jun 25, 1981 20 years, 301 days Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
17 Win 17–0 Johnny Cooper TKO 1 (10),
2:01
May 29, 1981 20 years, 274 days Civic Center, Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.
16 Win 16–0 Miguel Angel Hernandez TKO 8 (10),
0:38
Apr 24, 1981 20 years, 239 days Felt Forum, New York City, New York, U.S.
15 Win 15–0 Floyd Mayweather Sr. UD 10 Mar 9, 1981 20 years, 193 days Civic Center Assembly Hall, Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.
14 Win 14–0 Bruce Strauss KO 2 (10),
1:20
Feb 9, 1981 20 years, 164 days Civic Center, Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.
13 Win 13–0 Ruby Ortiz UD 10 Jan 16, 1981 20 years, 140 days Civic Center, Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.
12 Win 12–0 Curtis Taylor UD 10 Nov 25, 1980 21 years, 88 days Civic Center, Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.
11 Win 11–0 Dave Bolden TKO 3 (8),
2:49
Nov 3, 1980 21 years, 66 days Civic Center, Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.
10 Win 10–0 Benji Goldstone TKO 5 (8),
2:14
Jun 20, 1980 20 years, 296 days Civic Center Assembly Hall, Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.
9 Win 9–0 Eddie Campbell UD 8 May 23, 1980 20 years, 268 days Civic Center Assembly Hall, Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.
8 Win 8–0 Feliciano Cintron TKO 6 (8),
1:03
Apr 8, 1980 20 years, 223 days Civic Center, Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.
7 Win 7–0 Frank Minnigan TKO 4 (8),
0:15
Feb 28, 1980 20 years, 183 days Civic Center, Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.
6 Win 6–0 Charles Newell KO 7 (8) Jan 9, 1980 20 years, 133 days Civic Center Assembly Hall, Hartford, Connecticut, U.S. Newell died of injuries sustained from the fight.[5]
5 Win 5–0 John Saxton TKO 4 (6),
2:53
Nov 5, 1979 20 years, 68 days Civic Center, Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.
4 Win 4–0 Hector Ortiz PTS 6 Oct 17, 1979 20 years, 49 days Civic Center Assembly Hall, Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.
3 Win 3–0 Jerry North PTS 4 Sep 27, 1979 20 years, 29 days Polish National Hall, Bristol, Connecticut, U.S.
2 Win 2–0 Hubert Jackson UD 4 Sep 7, 1979 20 years, 9 days Civic Center, Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.
1 Win 1–0 Tim LaValley TKO 3 (4),
1:04
Jul 27, 1979 19 years, 332 days Civic Center Assembly Hall, Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b HBO Sports tale of the tape prior to the Lloyd Honeyghan fight.
  2. ^ "Marlon Starling". boxrec.com. BoxRec. Retrieved 27 November 2014.
  3. ^ "The Lineal Welterweight Champs". Cyber Boxing Zone.
  4. ^ Jacobs, Jeff (4 July 2013). "Marlon Starling Looking For That Next Chapter In His Life". Hartford Courant. Hartford Courant. Retrieved 27 November 2014.
  5. ^ "The Lewiston Journal - Google News Archive Search".
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Sporting positions
Regional boxing titles
Preceded by
Kevin Morgan
USBA Welterweight champion
July 17, 1982 – October 23, 1982
Succeeded by
Vacant
Title last held by
Donald Curry
USBA Welterweight champion
April 23, 1983 – May 18, 1986
Succeeded by
NABF Welterweight champion
April 23, 1983 – June 15, 1984
Succeeded by
Pedro Vilella
World boxing titles
Preceded by WBA Welterweight champion
August 22, 1987 – July 29, 1988
Succeeded by
Preceded by WBC Welterweight champion
February 4, 1989 – August 19, 1990
Succeeded by
The Ring Welterweight champion
February 4, 1989 – March 2, 1989
Title terminated
Vacant
Title next held by
Vernon Forrest
Title reintroduced