“I was so excited last week when my managers [Mike Borao and Jameel McCline] called and asked if I would fight Uzcatequi,” Korobov said. “I said yes without even asking what the money was. Now I’m hearing he won’t fight me. Of course he won’t fight me – he is scared, like everyone else. I beat him once easy, he knows I’ll beat him again. It is very difficult to know you are the best, but not have a chance to prove it.” “You don’t hear anyone but me calling to fight Jermall Charlo,” Korobov said. “I have been begging for that fight, also, but Charlo is looking at less risky opponents. People say Charlo is dangerous. I say look who he is fighting. He is very protected.” “I was finally going to get a chance to prove that I am one of best fighters in the world,” Korobov said, “and win a world title against a good champion. But Benavidez took the opportunity away from me with his actions. I know I would beat Benavidez. I just hope I get the chance after Dirrell.” “Even Gilberto Ramirez avoided me,” Korobov said of the WBO super middleweight champion. “Bob Arum called my manager over a year ago, when I was signed with Top Rank, and said you have to fight Ramirez for some low purse. I said yes, like always. And then Bob called my manager and said, ‘I can’t believe it, but Ramirez won’t fight Matt.’ “I can’t make the world champions fight me, but there is a very good reason they won’t. The same way that I beat Uzcategui, I would beat the other belt-holders. They all know it.”
He beat him easily already... Be nice to see Korobov finally get a belt though. Too good not to have one...
Biggest waste of talent in the pro ranks that I can remember is Korobov, quality operator who has been severely badly managed. And it seems that Charlo is ducking too, which seems about right considering he's on a bum tour at 160 at the moment.
Didn't Andy Lee smoke this dude? I'm not saying he's a bad fighter, but he had a shot already and couldn't capitalize.
**** happens, got caught with a left hook from one of the most devastating left hookers in the game. *right hook, forgot Lee's a southpaw
I don't see whats so strange about it. The writing was on the wall as early as the 3rd round. Lee was lining him up for that hook and Korobov couldn't avoid it.
The same Andy Lee who got a shot at Chavez Jr. and got steamrolled? Guess what, Andy then got his second shot(this time vs Korobov) and he capitalized on it. No need to write off Korobov because of one loss. Plenty of fighters lost their first big fight. One of my all time favorite boxer Terry Norris got absolutely annihilated in his first title shot. He then went on to become one of the best ever at 154. (Of course Norris was quite young then)