by Michael Woods

Matt Korobov had a reasonably busy 2016, for this age, fighting three times.

Then, 2017 came and just about went, and Korobov stayed on the sidelines, making him a somewhat forgotten figure at 160.

The Russian born hitter, who makes his home in West Palm Beach, tells us he’s looking to change that up, right quick.

The 27-1 boxer, whose sole loss came Andy Lee in 2014, told us that he is with a new promoter, in the Sauerland crew, and in fact is part of the World Boxing Super Series tourney, as a replacement hitter in the 168 arm of that series.

“I want to fight Danny Jacobs, BJ Saunders, GGG, Demetrius Andrade, I was close to an Andrade fight, before the Lee fight, David Lemieux, I will fight anybody  at 160 or 168,” Korobov said to BoxingScene.com. “I’m open, waiting for the opportunity to show my worth as a pro, as a man, as a boxer.”

 He’s walking around now at 172, he says, and is a gym rat at a gym in Boca Raton. Ex heavyweight ace Jameel McCline is now part of his managerial crew, he shares. February could bring a bout, he stated. “I’m ready to beat everybody who wants to fight at 160 to 168!”

At the beginning of the year, there was talk that he’d fight Gilberto Ramirez, a 168 titlist, he continued. It didn’t happen and he and Top Rank parted ways.

Yes, he has a good record, but he acknowledges that maybe his name recognition isn’t so high as to entertain foes to sign on, because his visibility lags his skill set. He’s looking to bark a bit, and up that visibility.

As for those who remember the Lee fight, Korobov exlains: “I was ahead all the rounds, I got caught by a good right hook, one mistake… no doubt he’s a good fighter, good experience..I’d fight him again, always welcome. But he’s not going to fight me again.”

Follow Woods on Twitter. Korobov is biting and barking on Twitter. Here is the account, he told me it is his.