By Mark Vester

DeMarcus "Chop Chop" Corley (31-7-1, 17KOs) may be on the verge of retirement, dropping his third bout in a row to unknown Dario Jose Esalas (30-10, 24KOs) by split-decision at the Westshore Doubletree Hotel in Tampa, Florida. The scores were indentical, 76-75, 76-75 and 76-75, two of the scorecards in favor of Esalas.

Coming into the bout, Esalas had not won a fight since 2004, and had a record of 2-9 in his last 11 fights, including losses to Edgar Satana, Panchito Bojado and Jose Armando Santa Cruz. 

Esalas lost a point in the seventh for a low blow, but ringside observers saw him simply outworking Corley, far from the same fighter who won the WBO junior welterweight title and gave problems to Miguel Cotto, Zab Judah and Floyd Mayweather Jr. Following the loss, Corley, winless since 2005, said retirement was likely.

He told Sports Network that he felt robbed, but also admits his career is now at the point of hanging up the gloves.

"I thought I won the fight clearly, by unanimous decision, even though I know I gave the last round away," Corley said. "This loss really hurt me. "I'm going to go home, sit down with the kids and my wife, talk to DK and them probably Monday or Tuesday and see what they want to do from there. If not, I can hang my gloves up. There's a pretty good chance this might be the last time you'll see me. I had a great career. I'm pleased. I'm satisfied with it."

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