Boxing Home> Exclusive Boxing Memorabilia
Marlon Starling Fight Worn Boxing Gloves
A pair of Cleto Reyes Fight Worn Boxing Gloves.
Worn by Marlon Starling the Magic Man himself in his last
fight against Maurice Blocker.
Marlon Starling
SOLD
These Rare Fight Worn Boxing gloves were obtained by Sports
Illustrated sports writer Mort Sharnik straight after the
fight.
Rare items of memorabilia such as this rarely become available
for public sale and will be the focal point of any boxing
collection and make you the envy of any boxing collector!
The most prolific and successful fighter from Hartford,
Connecticut since Willie Pep, Marlon Starling put Hartford
back onto the boxing world's map in the 1980's. Starling
won his first 25 fights in impressive fashion, knocking
out 16 boxers and handing Floyd Mayweather Sr. a decision
loss in front of Starling's hometown crowd. Known for his
tremendous boxing skills, Starling boasted a record that
included 27 knockouts in 45 wins. This respectable knockout
ratio shows that Starling had an offensive arsenal to complement
his remarkable defensive abilities.
After compiling a string of victories which included a win
over Kevin Morgan for the USBA Welterweight title, Starling
finally gained national attention in a televised fight against
undefeated NABF welterweight belt holder, Donald Curry.
Perhaps his nerves got the best of him in his first big
chance. In the Curry fight, "Magic Man" Starling
became his own worst enemy as his tendency to clown took
precedence over his need to score points against the formidable
NABF champ. As a result, Starling lost a clear-cut decision.
While Starling's skills made him a consummate professional,
Starling had developed a propensity for clowning around
in the ring, and finally, it worked against him. Starling
would chalk this behavior up to a need to put on a good
show for the fans. He would later admit to his lack focus,
noting that he recognized several of his hometown fans in
the audience during the fight.
Another series of impressive victories would earn Starling
a rematch with Curry. Still unable to impose his will on
Curry, he lost another decision to "The Lone Star Cobra"
from Texas.
Starling's shining moment came in the summer of 1987 when
he took on rising star, 1984 gold medal Olympian and welterweight
champion Mark Breland. The fight moved at a torrid pace
from the opening bell. However, Breland's conditioning became
an issue after 5 rounds when Breland began slipping to the
canvas in what many viewed as a way to get some much-needed
rest. Breland's raw talent eventually gave way to Starling's
dogged endurance, power and professionalism. In round eleven,
Starling unloaded a fury of power punches, knocking out
the depleted Breland and earning Starling the WBA welterweight
title. After the fight, the pro-Breland South Carolina crowd
applauded Starling's dramatic effort.
Though Starling did not have a wild personality or reckless
boxing style, his career was marked by flukish incidents
inside the ring. Only six fights into his budding boxing
career, Starling knocked out another Connecticut fighter
named Charles Newell. Sadly, Newell would pass away nine
days later from injuries suffered in the fight.
