Matt Korobov


Matvey Georgiyevich "Matt" Korobov is a Russian professional boxer who has challenged once for the WBO middleweight title in 2014, and the WBC interim middleweight title in 2018. As an amateur he won consecutive gold medals at the 2005 and 2007 World Championships, and gold at the 2005 Boxing World Cup; all in the middleweight division.

Amateur career

Korobov won the European junior title in 2001.
He became Russian champion in 2003 and 2004 but did not participate in the 2004 Summer Olympics as his country chose to send Gaydarbek Gaydarbekov, who had lost to him but eventually won Olympic gold.
He won the world championships in 2005 against Emilio Correa and the European Championships in 2006, defeating Oleksandr Usyk. He calls his World Cup win over Cuban Yordanis Despaigne the hardest fight of his amateur career, he helped to edge out a 6:5 team win.
In 2005 he was part of the Russian team that won the 2005 Boxing World Cup.
He once again won the world title by easily beating Sergiy Derevyanchenko and dominating Alfonso Blanco in 2007 by a score of PTS 29:4.
At the 2008 Summer Olympics he was off-form and was upset in his second bout by Bakhtiyar Artayev. He decided to turn pro afterwards. His record was 300-12.

World Amateur championship results

2005
2007
2008

Professional career

In his first world title fight on 13 December 2014, Korobov faced Andy Lee for the vacant WBO middleweight title. Even though he was doing well for the first five rounds, the Russian-born would end up hurt and then knocked out in the sixth round, losing his opportunty to become a world champion for the first time in his career.
On 22 December 2018, WBC middleweight champion Jermall Charlo was slated to defend his belt against Willie Monroe Jr. However, Monroe Jr's VADA tests came out positive for a banned substance, which meant a new opponent for Charlo was in the works. Korobov ended up being the substitution and gave Charlo a very tough fight, however, was still unable to come out with the win. Korobov started the fight really strong, but gave up the latter part to the WBC champion.
After a controversial majority draw against Immanuwel Aleem, Korobov, WBA's number #3 at middleweight at the time would go on to fight WBA's #1, Chris Eubank Jr. for the vacant WBA interim middleweight title, which was also the final eliminator for the full WBA middleweight title. Korobov lost the fight by a second-round TKO and injured his left shoulder during the process.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
32Loss28–3–1 Chris Eubank Jr.TKO2, 0:347 Dec 2019Barclays Center, New York City, New York, U.S..png" />For vacant WBA interim middleweight title;
Korobov unable to continue due to shoulder injury
31Draw28–2–1 Immanuwel Aleem1011 May 2019 EagleBank Arena, Fairfax, Virginia, U.S.
30Loss28–2 Jermall CharloUD1222 Dec 2018 Barclays Center, New York City, New York, U.S.For WBC interim middleweight title
29Win28–1 Jonathan BatistaUD62 Mar 2018 Airport Convention Center, Miami, Florida, U.S.
28Win27–1 Scott SigmonUD818 Nov 2016 Osceola Heritage Park, Kissimmee, Florida, U.S.
27Win26–1 Brian VeraUD825 Jun 2016 The Bomb Factory, Dallas, Texas, U.S.
26Win25–1 Josue OvandoUD816 Jan 2016 The Bomb Factory, Dallas, Texas, U.S.
25Loss24–1 Andy LeeTKO6, 1:1013 Dec 2014 Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.For vacant WBO middleweight title
24Win24–0 José UzcáteguiUD1028 Jun 2014 CenturyLink Center, Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.Won vacant WBO Inter-Continental middleweight title
23Win23–0 Emil Gonzalez6, 3:0019 Apr 2014 Bahia Shrine Temple, Orlando, Florida, U.S.
22Win22–0 Derek EdwardsTKO9, 0:287 Dec 2013 Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
21Win21–0 Grady BrewerUD828 Dec 2013 StubHub Center, Carson, California, U.S.
20Win20–0 Ossie DuranKO3, 0:5115 Jun 2013 American Airlines Center, Dallas, Texas, U.S.
19Win19–0 Arturo RodriguezTKO5, 1:0716 Feb 2013 Auditorio Fausto Gutierrez Moreno, Tijuana, Mexico
18Win18–0 Milton NúñezUD827 Oct 2012 County Coliseum, El Paso, Texas, U.S.
17Win17–0 Latif MundyKO4, 0:2211 Nov 2011 Mandalay Bay Events Center, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
16Win16–0 Lester GonzalezUD89 Jul 2011 Home Depot Center, Carson, California, U.S.
15Win15–0 Marcos PrimeraUD623 Apr 2011 WinStar World Casino, Thackerville, Oklahoma, U.S.
14Win14–0 Michael WalkerTKO1, 1:3112 Mar 2011 MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
13Win13–0 Derrick FindleyUD820 Nov 2010 WinStar World Casino, Thackerville, Oklahoma, U.S.
12Win12–0 Anthony GreenidgeUD811 Sep 2010 Pearl Concert Theater, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
11Win11–0 Joshua SnyderUD817 Apr 2010 Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
10Win10–0 Lamar HarrisTKO1, 1:0513 Feb 2010 Las Vegas Hilton, Winchester, Nevada, U.S.
9Win9–0 Ken DunhamTKO3, 1:2919 Dec 2009 Beeghly Center, Youngstown, Ohio, U.S.
8Win8–0 James WinchesterUD614 Nov 2009 MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
7Win7–0 Benjamin DiazKO1, 1:2227 Jun 2009 Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
6Win6–0 Loren Myers413 Jun 2009 Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
5Win5–0 Anthony BartinelliTKO2, 2:152 May 2009 MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
4Win4–0 Cory JonesTKO4, 2:5921 Feb 2009 Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
3Win3–0 Roberto Florentino1, 2:2626 Jan 2009 Staples Center, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
2Win2–0 Jason WahrTKO1, 2:5213 Dec 2008 Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
1Win1–0 Mario Evangelista3, 2:011 Nov 2008 Mandalay Bay Events Center, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.