Corley Closes Muay Thai Career, Full Steam on Boxing

By Peter Lim

Houston middleweight Chase Corley ended his Muay Thai career with a 17-13 record after placing second in a four-man, one-day tournament in Hong Kong on Oct. 21.  In his semi-final bout, Corley dropped Kevin Botz of Germany twice in the second round en route to a decision victory.
 
But Corley, 28, sustained "a lot of damage" against the German including busted ribs and a cut on his forehead from an elbow shot (legal in Muay Thai). Fighting injured in the finals against Tum Mardsua of Thailand, Corley was unable to defend protect himself effectively enough, prompting the referee to call a stoppage in the first round.
 
"I was taking too many elbows and knees," Corley told Boxing Scene via email from Hong Kong. "It was hard to defend after being busted up from the first fight."
 
A graduate of Texas A&M, Corley returns to Texas to resume the pro boxing career he began in 2012 after competing in Muay Thai from 2006-2011 in Thailand. His record under the Marquis of Queensbury rules stands at 3-0 (3 KOs).
 
Several Muay Thai exponents have made successful transitions to boxing. Most notably, Hall of Famer Khaosai Galaxy (47-1, 41 KOs) who made 19 defenses of his WBA 115-pound title and his twin brother Khaokor (24-2, 18 KOs) who briefly held the WBA 118-pound belt on two separate occasions.