Brinkley returns to action after layoff

BY MIKE HOUSER

Nearly seven months after scoring his biggest professional victory - a 10-round unanimous decision over Danny Perez - Yerington middleweight Jesse Brinkley will return to action on Thursday, when he faces Cleveland Corder in a 10-round main event billed as "Redemption," at Coeur D'Alene Casino, in Worley, Idaho.

For Brinkley, 22-1, with 15 knockouts, there's nothing to redeem, as he returns to the same venue where he knocked down Corder twice and scored a first-round technical knockout over the "Christian Warrior" on June 2 last year. Nonetheless, the 27-year-old Brinkley feels he still has something to prove against the 31-year-old Corder, who has won three fights since meeting Brinkley.

"I owe Corder that rematch," said Brinkley Monday via telephone from the Top Rank Gym in Las Vegas. "Everyone says it was a lucky punch. We haven't had a chance to even fight yet. He wants this real bad. We still don't know what each other hits like."

Corder, now 30-2 (16), might dispute that, as a brutal right uppercut sent him down for the first knockdown. Corder got back up, but was again pummeled to the canvas before the referee stopped the contest.

For Brinkley, now ranked No. 27 in the middleweight division by the WBC, the Corder bout is significant for him in two ways. First, it gives him a chance to shake off some of the rust he may have accumulated since his victory over Perez last Aug. 15, at Stodick Park in Gardnerville. Following his win over Perez, which was televised by ESPN and considered a tad controversial (Perez dropped Brinkley with a left hook in the fifth round, but referee Vic Drakulich ruled it a low blow), Brinkley had his tonsils removed in September.

The other incentive for Brinkley, should he get by Corder, could be a rematch against Perez, 28-4 (17), who hasn't fought since. Brinkley said they might meet next month in Reno.

Brinkley won the 154-pound bout with Perez by scores of 96-94 (twice) and 97-94, and was the aggressor, occasionally landing some good body blows against the cagey Perez, who unsuccessfully challenged WBO welterweight champion Antonio Margarito on Oct. 12, 2002.

"I can say I learned something from (the match with Perez,)" Brinkley said. "You have to be in excellent shape for every fight. I need to mix up my shots some more. You can't be basic when you're in with a guy with a good defense. You're not going to be able to set him up with a lucky shot."

Brinkley said he felt he is still improving in spite of the lay-off.

"Even in the fight, I was getting more experienced as the rounds went on," said Brinkley, who finished strong against Perez. "I was learning to sit inside and use my shoulders (defensively) against him. If I fight 15 rounds, I'll get better each round. I'm getting better in the gym, learning how to feint."

He's also learning how to deal with not getting big fights. Although he has appeared on many of its cards, Brinkley is not promoted by Top Rank and is still hoping he'll get his moment in the sun.

"Right now, I fight for the personal pleasure. What else can you call it?" Brinkley said without enthusiasm. "For seven years I've been doing this and it's still no go. I don't get all stressed and depressed anymore. I get in the best shape I can. But for seven years I've been winning, whether I blow some guy out in one round or whether I'm in with some guys you have to go to war with. Who else from (Northern Nevada) has been winning for seven years? I can't name one."

Brinkley opened his career with a one-round TKO over Koji Kotera on July 18, 1997. Brinkley was 4-0 on July 25, 1998, when he was stopped with an overhand right in the second round against 0-5 Concepcion Gutierrez, but has since reeled off 18 straight victories.

"I'm the first to admit I'm not a skillful thing," said Brinkley, "but I'm not wasted skin or air out there. I try my hardest to do my best out there."

Brinkley said it makes no difference whether he weighs 154 or 160 pounds.

"At 160 pounds I feel good. And even at 154 I don't have to dry out like an old prune or a raisin," Brinkley said.

In spite of his frustration at not getting a big fight, Brinkley is remaining upbeat and said he has a good game plan for Corder, one which served him well in their first meeting.

"I'm so happy how the way things have turned out," Brinkley said. "I'm not young anymore. Whatever happens, happens. (Against Corder), I'm going to be relaxed and box. That's it."

Contact Mike Houser at editor@nevadaappeal.com.