Does anyone know who Darren Corbett is fighting?

bennie · Post by **bennie** » 16 Apr 2004, 11:14

BELFAST'S big-hitting Darren Corbett makes only his second appearance since 2001 on the Belfast undercard tomorrow night at the legendary King's Hall.
The 31-year-old local man hasn't fought since last April when he defeated Clint Johnson in four frantic rounds at the nearby Ulster Hall after 17 months out due to a knee injury. A rib injury only days before a scheduled WBU light-heavyweight title challenge to Tony Oakey last October led to Southampton's Matthew Barney stepping in for him - and Barney shocked the previously unbeaten Oakey on a split decision (majority under WBU rules) in the champion's own hometown of Portsmouth.
Oakey subsequently tested positive for cocaine.
A disillusioned Corbett, who had split with American manager Kevin Dever just prior to pulling out, was all set to announce his retirement till a chance meeting with former manager Barry Hearn at Brian Magee's last IBO title defence at the King's Hall in November, led to a fight-by-fight deal between the two.
"It feels like my career has just started all over again," said an ecstatic Corbett, who has scored 16 quick wins in his record of 26-3-1.
"Now is the time to put my career back on track and finish it with a 'world' title around my waist."
He's also thrilled to be back at the famed King's Hall, where he last boxed in 1995 (a points win over Chris Eubank's cousin, Bobbie Jo Edwards).
"It has a great atmosphere and it suits me down to the ground. The real Darren Corbett is going to come out in this fight.
"It's a pity I left Matchroom in the first place but Barry Hearn won't regret having me back."
Corbett has always been a big draw in Belfast where he scored his biggest wins (to date) over the likes of Noel Magee, Ray Kane, Chris Okoh and Rob Norton, and collected Irish and Commonwealth cruiserweight titles along the way. He's a colourful, larger than life character, whose victory celebrations included crawling around the ring on his knees and who actually turned pro in the heavyweight division.
Promoter Barry Hearn used to quip his man could make middleweight if he really wanted to.
Humour aside, Corbett possesses a genuinely powerful left hook and was once mighty close to genuine 'world' cruiserweight title shot until he ran into Hackney's Bruce Scott and was stopped in the 10th round of a bruising affair for British and Commonwealth cruiserweight titles in 1998. That defeat took a lot out of Corbett, and a fight later, he was shocked by unheralded Frenchman Stephane Allouane in nine rounds at Manchester.
A move down to light-heavy followed.
Matchroom's John Wischusen said of tomorrow: "Darren will have a good test this time and then we will be looking to get him in for a title shot with Matthew Barney.
"The Barney fight could happen later this year."

REAL_DEAL · Post by **REAL_DEAL** » 16 Apr 2004, 11:36

KARIM BENNAMA (France)

bennie · Post by **bennie** » 16 Apr 2004, 11:36

REAL_DEAL wrote:KARIM BENNAMA (France)

Thank you, Chris.

knockout · Post by **knockout** » 16 Apr 2004, 11:37

all this talk of what Corbett will do at light heavy...... i dont think he will ever see 12stone 7 again and if he does he will be too weak to do any kind of damage

REAL_DEAL · Post by **REAL_DEAL** » 16 Apr 2004, 11:37

bennie wrote:
REAL_DEAL wrote:KARIM BENNAMA (France)
Thank you, Chris.

check matchroom website in future

http://www.matchroomsport.com

REAL_DEAL · Post by **REAL_DEAL** » 16 Apr 2004, 11:38

Saturday April 17
Kings Hall, Belfast

Ticket Prices: £25 Unreserved & £50 Ringside
Box Office: 01708 782200
Doors Open: 5:30pm
Boxing Commences: 6:00pm
PROMOTED BY RINGSIDE BOXING PROMOTIONS LIMITED

12 x 3 mins IBO Super-Middleweight Championship of the World
BRIAN MAGEE (Belfast) vs JERRY ELLIOTT (Germany/Nigeria)

12 x 3 mins IBO Light-Middleweight Championship of the World
SERGIO MARTINEZ (Argentina) vs RICHARD WILLIAMS (London)

10/12 x 3 mins International Flyweight Contest
DAMAEN KELLY (Belfast) vs ANDREY KOSTIN (Russia)

plus full supporting undercard:

8 x 3 mins International Light-Heavyweight Contest
DARREN CORBETT (Belfast) vs KARIM BENNAMA (France)

8 x 3 mins Middleweight Contest
JASON MCKAY (County Down) vs ALBERT GILBERT (Crawley)

6 x 3 mins Welterweight Contest
ANDY GIBSON (Larne) vs TAZ JONES (Abercynon)

6 x 3 mins Super-Bantamweight Contest
MARC CALLAGHAN (Barking) vs TOMMY WAITE (Belfast)

4 x 3 mins Lightweight Contest
MICHAEL KELLY (Belfast) vs BAZ CAREY (Coventry)

DETAILS SUBJECT TO CHANGE

bennie · Post by **bennie** » 16 Apr 2004, 11:45

knockout wrote:all this talk of what Corbett will do at light heavy...... i dont think he will ever see 12stone 7 again and if he does he will be too weak to do any kind of damage

Darren is one of those fighters who does far more more talking than walking nowadays. But tomorrow we'll see if he's got much left. He really blew things by pulling out of the Oakey fight after, as he said, running into a pram. I think just about anyone could have beaten Oakey that night.

stujones · Post by **stujones** » 16 Apr 2004, 14:20

Anybody heard of this Kostin fellow (Kelly's opponent).

bennie · Post by **bennie** » 16 Apr 2004, 14:57

stujones wrote:Anybody heard of this Kostin fellow (Kelly's opponent).

Has been in with Dale Robbo.