'Chop Chop' a chicken - Mullings

A war of words is brewing between the boxing camps of reigning Contender Series champion Sakima 'Mr Smooth' Mullings and 2016 winner DeMarcus 'Chop Chop' Corley, after their much-anticipated fight set for February was cancelled.

Mullings, frustrated by what he considers excuses by Corley not to agree to the fight, has labelled him a "coward".

However, Corley's promoter, Chris Joy, of I Fight Promotions, said a bout with Mullings is not a priority because the Jamaican is not the calibre of boxer to put his client into world-title contention.

Last year, Corley, a former WBO light welterweight champion, had said that his only demand to fight Mullings was that he reduce his weight from 154lb to 140lb. At the time, Chop Chop said money was no issue as he was 43, his health was his only concern.

Mullings has since said that he heard that Corley will not agree to the fight because he did not like what he considered low prize money.

"Ultimately, it's a situation where I believe he doesn't wanna fight me," Mullings said with a chuckle. "There are more ways than one that you can say no to a fight. I don't know what's being offered to him on the negotiating table, but I know that he's taking 10 times less to fight Jamaican fighters. [Corley last competed in Jamaica last July on an undercard bout during the Contender semi finals]

"Chop Chop has had enough opportunities to make this fight happen. There's a perfect opportunity now on Ronson Frank's (Uprising Promotions founder) card to make it happen, but he's shown to myself, to promoters, and the boxing world, that he wants no part in the fight. You can't force a man to fight," Mullings added.

MEANINGFUL FIGHT

"The only reason I'm pursuing the fight is because it's one that the Jamaican public want to see. That's the only relevance of the fight to me. Otherwise, me fighting Chop Chop at this stage does nothing for my career. I should fight former world champions but I'm at the stage where I'm looking for meaningful fights."

Meanwhile, Corley's promoter said his fighter is looking past Mullings.

"Chop Chop has a big fight coming up next month," Joy told STAR Sports. "He's gonna be fighting in the (United) States against Hank Lundy. He's a good fighter and it's a very 'nameful' fight for him. It puts him in a position where, if he can pull off two more fights in the States, he could possibly have the opportunity to fight for a world title."

"The fight with Sakima is not a top priority for him right now because his goal is to become world champion again. He would love to fight Sakima but there are bigger fights to get him where he needs to be. Sakima doesn't hold the key for him to get there.

"He has to fight more meaningful fights to put him in position to become a world champion. Sakima, even though he's a good fighter, he doesn't bring the recognition to the global boxing world that's needed," Joy stated.

Mullings will now turn his attention to a fight night on February 24, facing a soon-to-be-named opponent.