Marlon Starling

Background

Starling was born in Hartford, Connecticut in 1959.

Career

He turned professional in 1979. After 25 straight wins, he lost his first fight. He lost a 12 round 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 second world title fight came in 1987.

In his third title defense, Starling lost the title in controversial fashion to Tomas Molinares. Molinares hit Starling with a punch that was clearly thrown after the bell.

Starling went down for the only time in his career, and the referee counted him out.

However, the decision was later changed to a no contest but the Colombian kept the title. The following year, Starling challenged Michael Nunn for the IBF middleweight title, but lost by decision. In his next fight, Starling lost his welterweight titles on a close decision to Maurice Blocker.

That was Starling"s last fight.

He retired with a record of 45-6-1-1 (27 KOs).

Achievements

• He knocked out Mark Breland in the 11th round to win the WBA welterweight title. Molinares was declared the new champion by knock out. In 1989, Starling knocked out Lloyd Honeyghan to win the WBC welterweight titles.