Remembering Diego "Chico" Corrales

by SC on May 7, 2009 12:00 AM EDT in Classic Events and History Comment 12 comments

I choke up a little bit every time I remember coming in on May 7, 2007, turning on ESPN, and seeing the scrolling news that Diego Corrales was dead.

The exciting "Chico" lived just 29 years and nine months on this earth, but he left boxing fans with a lifetime of memories, most notably but not limited to his unbelievable 10th round stoppage of Jose Luis Castillo on May 7, 2005 -- two years to the day before he died in a motorcycle crash in Las Vegas.

My mind immediately shot back to that fight, and I had to watch that 10th round again. Here it is in all its glory:

It was the greatest fight I have ever seen. And it still gives me chills.

Diego Corrales was not the greatest boxer ever. But he was special. He was a man that refused to give up no matter how dire the circumstances. In this case, he came back and sent shockwaves through the boxing landscape. In other cases (his overwhelming loss to Floyd Mayweather Jr. and his final fight against Joshua Clottey), he tried until there was nothing more he could possibly offer, even though the only thing left was a final bell to ring. He was the bravest, gutsiest man I've ever had the pleasure of seeing fight in my generation.

Boxing still misses you, Diego, and we'll never forget your contributions. May you rest in peace.

DIEGO CORRALES

1977-2007

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I loved that HBO focused on his fight with Castillo and used Showtimes coverage to really point out the significant loss that boxing just had.

"Boxing is dirty," said Casamayor. " The day I’m not ready to be a dirty fighter is the day I don’t fight anymore because it will mean that I have no heart for it anymore."

by Zocalo on May 7, 2009 12:48 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

great post

Corrales/Castillo is tha greatest fight I’ve ever seen and tha 10th round may be tha greatest round I’ve ever seen. any Corrales fight was a must see b/c you knew he was leavin it all out in the ring. You are missed Diego.

You're not foolin me Kerry Collins.

by TitanFan2K on May 7, 2009 1:58 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

If that fight didn’t make you a boxing fan…you have no hope. I had just recently gotten into boxing and thus had no rooting interest in the fight. After the first 3 rounds I was absolutely engrossed. When Corrales went down twice, I thought it was over. He’d taken so much punishment I couldn’t imagine him getting back up. By the time he was able to stop Castillo, I was utterly mesmerized. The heart and chins both those guys showed was amazing. If every fight were something like that, boxing would challenge the NFL for dominance in America. RIP Chico.

Boxing is like jazz. The better it is, the less people appreciate it.
-George Foreman

by jsims2 on May 7, 2009 2:09 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Corrales/Castillo

One of the best fights i have ever seen. In my top 5.
Corrales had balls.
He is sadly missed.

"One Shall Stand. One shall Fall" - Optimus Prime

by dinkman on May 7, 2009 3:09 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Despite his flaws as a man

he was one of the most awesome athletes you could possibly meet as a fan. If you wanted to talk boxing with the guy he would stop and just talk at length with complete strangers about boxing history. Chico were he alive would probably be one of the first guys I would expect to pop up on the forums and chat. A wonderfully cool dude and an absolute warrior.

RIP Chico – You live on in my sig and avatar

Gimme 1 round!

by ItBurnzWhenIP on May 7, 2009 9:34 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Full fight

rd 1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6aXVduINXrM
rd 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQ9uLC_cjMI
rd 3 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-Gt26Vvbos
rd 4 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oq14wukhEfE
rd 5 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYJ3Of1bZHo
rd 6 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYU5hh3Rf6E
rd 7 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GFVc7f4mP78
rd 8 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFf3uXBR50o
rd 9 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1HNvRffipv0
rd 10 in 720P http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBEceBrPYB0

Gimme 1 round!

by ItBurnzWhenIP on May 7, 2009 9:53 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs

Was not a Corrales fan.

Owing to his beating of his then-pregnant wife. Thoroughly enjoyed seeing Floyd dominate him soon after that.

You can’t deny the amount of heart on both his and Castillo’s part in that fight, though. That was one for the ages.

Although detractors decry (MMA) as a brutal, bloody form of human cockfighting, aficionados know it is a brutal, bloody, totally fucking awesome form of human cockfighting. -The Onion

by The Kittitas Kid on May 7, 2009 11:47 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Great post and remembrance of one of my favorite fights.

Boxing writer: "Iran, what are you going to do when you retire?"
Iran Barkley: "Rob your house"

by Matt Miller on May 7, 2009 12:50 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Cheers to Diego...

I was lucky enough to see him fight Clottey… He wasn’t cut out for WW, but he still showed so much heart to even make it to the final bell, and he never stopped trying to win the fight. A great warrior.

It's not the size of the dog... It's whats in the fight of Bernard Hopkins! -BHOP

by blackpage on May 7, 2009 12:54 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

diego dominates so hard

that even 2 years after his death he is still in boxing games.

The Dude Abides

by battle axe of doom on May 7, 2009 7:32 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

The look of determination

We watch fights all our lives for the gift and honor of seeing atrue warrior like Diego. the night he put that mouthpiece back in his mouth, hitched up his shorts and walked back to KO Castillo is his story (history)

by Pericoloso on May 8, 2009 12:57 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

greatest fight ive ever seen

it was just amazing
my cuzin trains with chico’s dad and i had a chance to talk to him about stuff, even tho they had a falling out he spoke very highly of his son. he told me they had been trying to get chico to quit boxing because it was starting to show its effects on him but he needed the money so he couldnt.