# Marlon Starling

Marlon Starling (born August 29, 1959) 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.

## Professional boxing career

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. 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

| 53 fights | 45 wins | 6 losses |
| By knockout | 27 | 0 |
| By decision | 18 | 6 |
| Draws | 1 | 1 |
| No contests | 1 | 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 | 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. | |