On February 4, 1989, a 29-year-old Marlon Starling (43-4-1, 26 KOs) got a shot at the WBC welterweight title held by 28-year-old British boxer Lloyd Honeyghan (33-1, 22 KOs).
Starling came in to the fight after a draw in his last fight with a 54% KO rate, and was fighting after a gap of 6 months and 6 days. Honeyghan was on a 2-fight win streak with a 64% KO rate, and fighting after a layoff of 6 months and 6 days.
Marlon Starling stopped the champion via TKO in the 9th round of the 12-round world-title fight, and is crowned the new WBC welterweight champion. Starling improves his record to 44-4-1 (27 KOs), while Honeyghan adds a loss to his record at 33-2.
On August 22, 1987, a 27-year-old Marlon Starling (41-4, 25 KOs) got a shot at the WBA welterweight title held by 24-year-old Mark Breland (18-0, 12 KOs).
Starling came in to the fight on a 4-fight win streak with a 55% KO rate, and was fighting after a gap of 2 months and 17 days. Breland was on a 18-fight win streak with a 66% KO rate, and fighting after a layoff of 1 month and 12 days.
Marlon Starling stopped the champion via TKO in the 11th round of the 15-round world-title fight, winning the first world title of his career, and is crowned the new WBA welterweight champion. Starling improves his record to 42-4 (26 KOs), while Breland adds a loss to his record at 18-1.
On September 15, 1989, the 30-year-old WBC welterweight world champion, Marlon Starling (44-4-1, 27 KOs), faced Young Kil Jung, in a title defense fight.
Starling came in to the fight on a 1-fight win streak with a 55% KO rate, and was fighting after a gap of 7 months and 11 days.
Marlon Starling defeated Young Kil Jung via unanimous decision and successfully defended his WBC welterweight title. Starling improves his record to 45-4-1
On February 5, 1988, the 28-year-old WBA welterweight world champion, Marlon Starling (42-4, 26 KOs), faced Fujio Ozaki, in a title defense fight.
Starling came in to the fight on a 5-fight win streak with a 56% KO rate, and was fighting after a gap of 5 months and 14 days.
Marlon Starling defeated Fujio Ozaki via unanimous decision and successfully defended his WBA welterweight title. Starling improves his record to 43-4
On April 16, 1988, Marlon Starling and Mark Breland met again in a rematch.
Starling came in to the fight on a 6-fight win streak with a 55% KO rate, and was fighting after a gap of 2 months and 11 days. Breland was on a 2-fight win streak with a 61% KO rate, and fighting after a layoff of 2 months and 11 days.
The fight ended in a split decision draw and both the fighters added a draw to their respective records — Starling is now 43-4-1 and Breland, 20-1-1.
On February 4, 1984, Marlon Starling and Donald Curry met again in a rematch.
Starling came in to the fight on a 6-fight win streak with a 62% KO rate, and was fighting after a gap of 2 months and 9 days. Curry was on a 17-fight win streak with a 70% KO rate, and fighting after a layoff of 5 months and 1 day.
Donald Curry defeated Marlon Starling via unanimous decision in the rematch and unifies the WBA and IBF welterweight titles. Curry improves his record to 18-0, while Starling adds a loss to his record at 31-2.
On July 17, 1982, a 22-year-old Marlon Starling (23-0, 15 KOs) and Kevin Morgan met in the ring in a welterweight bout.
Starling came in to the fight on a 23-fight win streak with a 65% KO rate, and was fighting after a gap of 1 month and 12 days.
Marlon Starling stopped Kevin Morgan via TKO in the 1st round. Starling improves his record to 24-0 (16 KOs)
On April 23, 1983, a 23-year-old Marlon Starling (27-1, 18 KOs) and Jose Baret met in the ring for the 2nd time, in a welterweight bout.
Starling came in to the fight on a 2-fight win streak with a 64% KO rate, and was fighting after a gap of 2 months and 18 days.
In the rematch, Marlon Starling defeated Jose Baret via unanimous decision in the 12-round welterweight fight. Starling improves his record to 28-1
On April 14, 1990, a 30-year-old Marlon Starling (45-4-1, 27 KOs) got a shot at the middleweight IBF title held by 27-year-old Michael Nunn (34-0, 23 KOs).
Starling came in to the fight on a 2-fight win streak with a 54% KO rate, and was fighting after a gap of 6 months and 30 days. Nunn was on a 34-fight win streak with a 67% KO rate, and fighting after a layoff of 8 months.
Michael Nunn defeated Marlon Starling via majority decision and successfully defended his IBF middleweight title. Nunn improves his record to 35-0, while Starling adds a loss to his record at 45-5-1.
On April 17, 1984, a 24-year-old Marlon Starling (31-2, 20 KOs) and Lupe Aquino met in the ring in a welterweight bout.
Starling came in to the fight on a 1-fight losing streak with a 60% KO rate, and was fighting after a gap of 2 months and 13 days.
Marlon Starling defeated Lupe Aquino via unanimous decision in the 12-round welterweight fight. Starling improves his record to 32-2