The ESB British Forum Encyclopedia

I think we should do a sweepstake on how many non-Jpab replies the thread gets.

I'll go 4.

 

15, Donaire is big news.

 

**** you Wallet, even if you are probably correct.

 

I will, I repeat, WILL get Archie Moore done soon!

 

Name: Marlon Starling
Height: 5'8

Boxing record
Total fights 53
Wins 45
KO's 27
Losses 6
Draws 1 (1 NC)

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Marlon Starling was a top ten Welterweight for most of the 1980s, fighting many of the best fighters in the division and proving himself the no.1 man in a stacked era for the weight. Now, he is regarded by many as one of the most skilled Welterweight operators of all time.

But Starling had to overcome numerous setbacks on his way to establishing himself as the premier fighter in the division. Bad decisions, controversial endings, a boxing tragedy, and wrong choices made by Starling himself in the ring only seemed to make him stronger, and he learned and adapted from his mistakes to eventually reach the pinnacle of the 147lb weight class, one of the matinee divisions in the sport.

His ring moniker was 'The Magic Man', and Starling did some truly majestic things in the ring. But to friends and fans alike he was affectionately known as 'Moochy', and he had a playful arrogance to his work that made him popular despite his highly technical approach.

An incredible defensive technician who would catch most shots on his 'earmuffs' guard but could slip and counter just as well, he was comfortable behind his jab or in close. Starling rarely took a backwards step, using his nigh on impenetrable defence to cut the distance efficiently, countering at mid-range to get close and work his intricate inside game, where he was as hard to hit as he was to hold off.

Starling had a snappy jab, could counter with his right hand, and would pop off hooks and uppercuts that were stinging rather than concussive. Lacking a big punch and suffering from tendonitis in his hands throughout his career, Starling stayed inside his opponents punching range at all times, and compensated for his lack of pop with an all-round game that made him a stylistic nightmare for most, extremely hard to hit clean, and a nagging, spiteful offence as well.

He was also a frustrating fighter who suffered majorly in his career due to his overconfidence, demonstrating too much flair in the ring at times and not focusing enough on letting his hands go, sometimes coasting against technically outmatched opposition.

A decent amateur (97-13) who had some minor National successes, Starling turned pro' in 1979. In an early bout, Starling won by clean knockout against journeyman Charles Newell. Seemingly innocuous, Newell would die from his injuries just over a week later, which may also explain why Starling would sometimes coast and not step on the gas in fights. This would go on to be a major issue in his first big test.

After compiling a 25-0 (16) record against journeyman opposition (including a points verdict over a post-injury Floyd Mayweather Sr), when he ran into a 21 year old amateur standout with a 14-0 (11) ledger. Known as 'The Lone Star Cobra', Don Curry would go on stamp his authority on the post-Leonard Welterweight era.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBcjNehucrk[/ame]

This was the first big test for both men, and Starling showcases his in-ring eccentricities here, with the 'Starling Stomp' (quickly coined by the commentators) where he would bring his front foot up and down in an exaggerated fashion whilst slamming his gloves together. In a battle largely fought on the inside, Starlings ability to clown at mid-range and punch in close clearly frustrates the phenom Curry, who doesn't look the rounded sharpshooter we now know he would become. Ultimately, Starling didn't let his hands go enough down the stretch and allowed Curry to get back into the fight, and whilst I had it a draw, the decision rendered to the still undefeated Don Curry that night was more than fair. Don Curry would have to work on his inside game. Marlon Starling would have to go back to the drawing board and learn from his mistake.

Starling took on hard-punching Dominician prospect Jose Baret soon after. Gil Clancy said beforehand that Baret was the 'most talked about fighter to come out of New York gyms in many a year' and that his 'punching power was becoming legend...wearing big gloves....hitting people in the chest and knocking them out'. 54-1 as an amateur and 16-0 as a pro', Clancy conceded Starling would be more experienced, and that is how the fight played out,with Starling predicting a knockout beforehand to make up for his loss to Curry and getting one, battering the slugger into the ground inside four rounds, cut over the eye and having no success, he refused to get up.

In 1983, Starling moved another step closer into title contention, when he took on then-ranked Kevin Howard. Howard was a hard-working pro' who had a win over big-punching Bobby Joe Young, but was having trouble making the 147lb limit. He was no pushover going into this fight, but would have his biggest 'success' afterwards in a loss, convincing Ray Leonard his retirement was a good idea, scoring a flash knockdown over the great 'Sugar' Ray.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y0oWW7eu_k4[/ame]

Starling didn't fall for Howards fast bursts, clinically picking his shots and nearly sparking him early with a pair of stinging left hands that Howard barely recovers from. Lowering his punch output for a few rounds, Starling allowed Howard to snatch a few rounds, but in the 7th stepped into Howard and bombed him with both hands, rocking him and prompting Ray Leonard, on commentating duty as he was for many of Starlings fights, to say thrice: 'Kevin Howard is on ***** street'! Starling rarely got out of first gear, but pitched a near shutout to take him closer to a rematch with a man now riding the crest of an unimaginable wave of hype; Don Curry, now WBA & IBF Champion, and perceived by many to be the 2nd best P4P fighter at that time, behind only 'Marvelous' Marvin Hagler.

He followed up the Howard win with an impressive win over another touted prospect, undefeated prospect Tommy Ayers. Starling would then get his shot at putting right his loss to Don Curry, as well as hoping to gain the recognition he desired as the best. Over 15 rounds, Curry took a clear points win, in another highly competitive and technical in-battle. Curry learned from the first fight, and was at his very best here, doing what, to my mind, no one else managed to do with Starling and comprehensively beat him on the inside, finally proving his superiority with a strong 15th round where he stunned Starling, outpunched him, and shoved a tired and hurt Starling halfway out of the ring, bullying him on the inside as Starling would go on to with the most of the Welterweights from after this fight in '84 until his retirement in '90. Curry solidified his reputation as one of the best Pound-for-pound fighters in the World.

For Starling, he faced his first major setback in his chase for recognition as the best in the World. With Curry proving himself the better man, it seemed unclear as to how Starling would go about reaching the pinnacle of the game.

 

[code][/code]PART 2

He quickly bounced back with a win over Lupe Aquino, but shortly after that, Starling failed to progress again, losing a decision to to future Milton McCrory challenger Pedro Vilella, losing his NABF 147lb title in another fight where he simply didn't do enough.

After this Starling had to work his way back up the ranks again, nullifying the sporadically flashy but ineffective Floyd Mayweather Sr in a rematch, and then unpointing an undefeated and always dangerous Simon Brown, who had extreme difficulty punching through Starlings defence.

Starling would then take on former 140lb titlist, the tall but vulnerable Johnny Bumphus. There was open scoring after every round, and with Bumphus getting the better of the first six in what looked to be an intriguing battle, the fight was stopped on a headclash which opens a horrendous gash on Bumphus' forehead, and Bumphus took the win on the scorecards, a 6-round technical decision. Starling had to wait, again, for his shot at becoming the man at 147. Bumphus would get a shot in his very next fight, which would also be his last, being bumrushed to a stoppage in two by Lloyd Honeyghan, cementing himself as the best Welterweight in the World.

Avenging his loss to Pedro Villela via ten-round decision in meaningless fashion (his former conquerer riding a 5-fight losing streak) from September '86 til August of '87 Starling notched four wins (3 inside distance) before being lined up to take on the 18-0 (12) super prospect Mark Breland, making the first defence of the vacant WBA title he had recently acquired.

An amateur superstar who compiled a record of 110-1 (he would avenge the lone loss via early K.O in the pro ranks), Breland was five time New York Golden Gloves champion, amassing a record of 21-0 (19, 14 in the 1st round) and had won the Welterweight Gold at the '84 Olympics, the undoubted star of a team that included Evander Holyfield, Meldrick Taylor and Pernell Whitaker. He transitioned into the pro game with a massive amount of excitement around him, with one hyperbolic article of the time even touting him as a mix of Tommy Hearns and Ray Robinson! But whilst those comparisons would be proven to be way off, like the aforementioned two greats, Breland was a big Welterweight, scaling 6'2, and a big puncher as well.

His first 18 victims featured a few undefeated fighters and had a combined record of 280-66-16, but despite winning the vacant title, the tricky, skillful 28-year old (already) veteran Starling was to be his first real test. But just a test. For many, Breland was to follow in the footsteps of Ray Leonard, from Olympic Gold to pound-for-pound supremacy.

Marlon Starling hadn't read the script.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtYvIJPs7pw[/ame]

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06tltGgpZjY&feature=related[/ame]

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Despite a number of fights against top-class opposition, this was only Starlings 2nd attempt at a 'World' title in 45 contests, and he wasn't prepared to let it go easily. Saying beforehand that if Breland tried to tie him up on the inside he would throw him down and would try and stop the confident puncher from settling into a rhythm, Starling does just that, with Breland falling to the mat many times throughout the bout, as first Starling imposes himself on him, and then Breland gets increasingly negative and frustrated and pulls Starling into him and throws himself to the floor.

Starling would go on to say Brelands jab was harder than most fighters right hands.Starlings was so hard to backup, punch or dissuade, it must've dawned on Brelands camp during the fight that whilst he needed a step up in opposition, Marlon Starling was just about the most infuriating and difficult opponent they could've picked. In an undoubtedly close fight (I would've had it even going into the 11th if not for the deduction) Starling keeps the pressure on, knowing full well Breland has never been past ten.

Swatting a tiring Breland on the inside with a right hand, Starling found his man in trouble and pounced on him, letting off an explosive and ferocious variety of punches that culminated in a massive left hook that detonated on the reeling Brelands jaw to send him crashing to the mat. It really is a tremendous display of calculated and efficient finishing. With his legs turned to jelly, Breland stumbled to his feet but was waved off.

Marlon Starling had overcome long odds to claim his first major title!

Starlings first defence was Japanese Welterweight Champion Fujio Ozaki. In an uneventful fight, Starling phoned in his performance to win a comfortable decision. He then re-matched Breland, with the fight controversially being ruled a draw. With Breland going into this fight with a completely negative mindset, Starling didn't get too much good work done towards the end of the fight, but he landed all the clean shots throughout and rocked Breland a few times. The powers-that-be were still hoping for Breland to be a success, but he had even less success with 'Moochy' this time around, seemingly content to last the distance. The 8th round typified how competitive this contest really was. Starling had enough of catching up to Breland only to be nullified by Brelands long arms and with Breland throwing little and constantly moving backwards not giving him much to counter, so tried a different approach, laying on the ropes and waiting for the challenger. Picking his punches, Breland tried to land a shot on Starling for most of the round, but found his defences too difficult to breach. Starling slipped and caught everything that Breland chucked at him, which wasn't that much. Breland, bamboozled by another chapter in Starlings shows of bravado, became even more gun shy with the opportunity to open up;. Starlings two counters, a left hook and an overhand right, landed cleanly. I felt Starling clearly got the better of the fight without really getting out of 1st gear.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzm-SpVozso&feature=results_video&playnext=1&list=PL574A6ECCAA85C255[/ame]

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6HO5nC8xk9o&feature=related[/ame]

Starling kept his title nonetheless, and defended against 23-0 (20) Tomas Molinares, who had a built-up record. But, as I'm sure most boxing fans will know, unheralded South American punchers have sprung upsets against many experienced professionals. Underestimate one at your own peril.

Tomas Molinares, who came through the same gym as legendary Middleweight puncher Rodrigo Valdez, came into the fight with little fanfare, though it was felt he should be handled with care. In one of the most controversial endings of all time, the confident puncher showed Starling just why.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GmS0yrU3Hcw[/ame]

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GmS0yrU3Hcw[/ame]

Molinares was not the average crude banger, and that was evident straight away. He showed good punch variety, a hard jab and keeps moving, not staying straight on. In the 2nd, they threw hands after the bell; an ominous nod towards what is to come later. Starling went on to take control over the tiring challenger, landing beautiful combinations and counters on Molinares and beginning to boss the fight when he stupidly carried on punching after the bell had rang to signal the end of the 6th round.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6oIDVegJBnA&feature=related[/ame]

It all happened so fast.Starling, in supreme control, knowing the round was coming to an end, was sloppy, and threw a punch as the bell rang. Molinares reciprocated, although he threw a full blooded hay maker from Hell with bad intentions, and laid waste to Starling!

Did Starling relax at the sound of the bell and get caught with a shot he usually wouldn't have? Was he just not paying attention and paid for it? Molinares obviously had the punch to close this inside the distance, so feasibly could've sparked Starling at any time. Should Molinares have been DQ'd? Awarded a K.O victory? A no-contest? The officials didn't know how to deal with it either, giving Molinares a TKO victory on the night, later reversing it to a no-contest, but letting Molinares keep the title. Starling himself was so out of it and badly concussed he didn't even realise he'd been sparked, and thought he'd broken his leg (he did twist his ankle in the fall) It was down to Larry Merchant to break the bad news to the now ex-titlist.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xz5Pbp9wwVk&feature=related[/ame]

Starling had lost his belt, Molinares had lost his victory (and his marbles shortly after, suffering a nervous breakdown and never registering another win, finishing his career on 2 straight stoppage losses) but all in all, like a few times in his career, Marlon Starling had only person to blame: himself.

 

PART 3

In what for some fighters might cause a total rethink on their style of fighting, 'Magic Man' resumed business as usual. Inside the confines of a round, Marlon Starling had still never been dropped.

He quickly had the chance to show that he had suffered no ill-effects after the controversial knockout. He would face the linear champion and consensus number 1 Welterweight for the WBC title, 'The Ragamuffin Man' Lloyd Honeyghan.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYqlHZ4o8dw[/ame]

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-IawqJMxS8&feature=related[/ame]

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These two did not like each other. Honeyghan had lost just once, a swiftly avenged technical decision loss to Joge Vaca. The Brit' had been on top of the 147lb stack since his shock win over Don Curry, and Starling was going to seize the biggest opportunity of his career with both hands.

Starling quickly nullified the offensive buzzsaw Honeyghan,and the champion got more and more weary as the contest went on, showing too much respect for Starling, who dismisses Honeyghans attempts to touch gloves, and proved the perfect stylistic foil to Honey', who tried to revert back to the skills that tool him to domestic and European honours. But Starling was too good in all departments, and overcame the odds once again, forcing a stoppage in 9 rounds to finally sit on the Welterweight throne! In the fight straight after one of the worst, and weirdest moments of his up-and-down career, Starling had achieved his greatest victory. He was, at last, the man.

Chasing a major payday caused Starling to take more risks, as he increasingly dropped his hands in the fights following this, and let his hands go more in the hope of landing a big pay day against the likes of Julio Cesar Chavez or Meldrick Taylor. Till regarded as a highly durable fighter despite the Molinares fiasco, Starling defended his title against Honeyghans former challenger Yung Kil-Chung, who took a full count against the legendary Brit' after taking a low shot. He goes the distance here, but is thoroughly outclassed by Starling, putting all of his experience together to put forth a display where he doesn't showboat, but picks off the game Korean contender with snappy single shots, blazing combinations, and picture perfect counters throughout to win a wide decision.

Starling, disgruntled he still hadn't graced the cover of Sports Illustrated, took on a new challenge. Like The Fabulous Four before him, and Jose Napoles, Emile Griffith and Luis Manuel Rodriguez before them, Starling jumped from Welterweight to middleweight, where he again took on an undefeated and very highly touted American titlist, Michael Nunn, for the IBF Middleweight title.

Nunn had wins over Iran Barkley, Juan Roldan and Frank Tate, as well as a sensational 1st round K.O of legendary Middleweight technician Sumbu Kalambay. Boasting an undefeated record of 34 wins, Nunn was a fast handed and skillful southpaw who was somewhat lackadaisical in the ring because of his natural talent and lifestyle outside of it, but washighly regarded at his peak.

Both men were coming off a year of inactivity. Starling weighed in at 158lbs, and even against a naturally bigger man possessed the slower and less fluid hands. Nunn was starting to lose his appetite for the game here, and whilst he won comfortably in rounds using his superior handspeed, lateral movement and big advantage in size, he tried to coast, and it was Starling who pressed the action and was still a very hard target for Nunn to land on cleanly. Earning a draw on one scorecard (not justifiable IMO), I gave Starling 4 rounds, and with the deck stacked against him, he gave a good account of himself, landing some good punches of his own and taking little damage against a still very talented fighter, despite losing the decision.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AD5YeX_M5O8[/ame]

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[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WvLV6mHhlcQ&feature=related[/ame]

After the sterling effort he put in against Nunn but with mainstream success still eluding him, Starling returned to defend his linear title against tall and rangy boxer Maurice Blocker. Blocker, with only one decision loss on his record (in a challenge to former champion Honeyghan) was trained by Eddie Futch, who had left after disagreements with Starling. Starling remained with Futch's protege, Freddie Roach, who stayed with Starling even after his Master left.

In a fast-paced and highly competitive bout that could've gone either way, Starling battled through a bad cut over the left eye, and with both men trying hard to do the better work, Maurice Blocker took a close majority decision (with 2x 115-113 and one 114-114)

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5n82MyimGo[/ame]

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SB8CheMJqMw&feature=related[/ame]

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdux4kxMJhU&feature=related[/ame]

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGy-t-X-ydM&feature=related[/ame]

After the loss of his championship to Blocker, Starling rested for eight months, and after testing the waters with some sparring, he realised he had lost his love for the game and that his body couldn't keep up to the demands of the sport anymore. He retired in 1990 aged 31, having held a World title on two seperate occasions and at one point holding the lineal Welterweight championship.

To most sports fans, Marlon Starling is not the most recognisable name. But in retrospect, it is clear to see what a sublime fighter he was. He worked hard, picked himself up whenever he suffered a loss, and fought his way to the top of the Welterweight tree without ducking anyone, and is arguably the 3rd greatest Welterweight of the 80's behind just Ray Leonard and Don Curry.

Marlon 'The Magic Man' Starling, lived up to his ring moniker, of that there can be no doubt.

 

Starling is soooooo overrated

 

;-)

I think he will continue to be underrated, as I can't see many getting through that pile of waffle :?

 

I havent had a proper read of a lot of these entries ill do it one lazy Sunday afternoon. Like you say however probably a bit overshadowed by SRL and Curry in particular so was unable to make his mark properly.

Did things the hard way had a good title run but probably could have had a better one had he not run into a prime Curry so early on.

 

Curry was a technical beast but lacked the durability to have extended longevity.

Starling managed to come back from the same disappointing setbacks Curry had, but was more comfortable at the weight and had an economic style that facilitated a longer prime. I would say Curry still did enough, as well as having the second fight with Starling, where he proved he was the better fighter by beating Starling at his own game.

 

Really good post Flea, I've only ever watched 2 of Starlings fights before & on my next day off I'll watch all the footage you've included

He's another 1 of those fighters I'm aware of but know very little about, an excellent choice for this thread

 

Thank SportsLeader, knowing I was a fan of Starlings he suggested him :good

It's ridiculously long I know, but he had a mad old career!

 

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3ALwKeSEYs[/ame]

Finally!

 

Quality vid'! What series is that from (does not look of the quality of the proper Street Fighter II: Animated Movie :deal)

I'm sorry that the piece will take up most of your day to read