Fight Time for Pacquiao vs Mosley, but May 7 Holds Other Significance for Fight Fans
by Scott Christ on May 7, 2011 10:38 AM EDT
in Boxing Commentary & Opinion
Email
Print
While today is on fire in the boxing world for a very obvious reason -- Manny Pacquiao is back in the ring tonight against Shane Mosley (9pm ET, Showtime PPV) -- the date May 7 is well-remembered by boxing fans for other reasons.
One reason is great. On May 7, 2005, Diego "Chico" Corrales and Jose Luis Castillo engaged in what is regarded by many as the greatest fight in recent boxing history, and one of the best fights of all time. If you have never seen this fight, I encourage -- nay, demand that you watch it in full. If you have seen it, let's relive the climactic 10th round, which was and remains truly incredible.
Corrales was always noted for his remarkable heart. In 2001, Corrales was undefeated and matched with Floyd Mayweather Jr. in a major 130-pound showdown. Mayweather decimated Corrales. He took him apart at the seams all night long. All told, by the time Corrales' corner stopped it in the 10th round, "Chico" had been down five times.
But he didn't want the fight to be stopped. Corrales still thought that he could make his way back into it and knock out Mayweather. He protested his corner's stoppage vehemently and emotionally. He didn't want to give up.
That was the fighter Diego Corrales was. The sort who always felt he could come back in a fight, no matter how badly things were going. Four years later against Castillo, he did just that. Reeling in the 10th round, and down twice in the frame, Corrales suddenly raged back at Castillo, and wound up forcing referee Tony Weeks' hand. It's one of the great scenes in boxing history, as the wired crowd explodes in a mix of jubilation and pure disbelief, while trainer Joe Goossen -- shocked himself (check out his expression) -- rushes into the ring to hoist Corrales into the air.
The moment couldn't last. Corrales would never win another fight, and two years later to the day, he died on May 7, 2007, the result of a motorcycle accident in Las Vegas, his home and the site of his greatest moment.
Every year on this day, I remember "Chico" Corrales for the fighter he was. Few will thrill me the way he did as long as I'm alive.
And if Pacquiao and Mosley can deliver one-eighth the excitement of Corrales-Castillo tonight, we're in for a good one.
9 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Nah, Castillo was totally defenceless.
Corrales had hit him 4 or 5 times without a response, Castillo’s head was bobbing up down and all over and his arms were at his side – I think it was a good call.
"Occasionally, there is a boxing match that, in its demonstration of skill, courage, intelligence, hope, seems to redeem the sport - almost. Perhaps boxing has always been a sport in crisis, a sport of crisis."
by Oli Goldstein on May 7, 2011 11:30 AM EDT up reply actions
RIP Chico - never forgotten.
"Occasionally, there is a boxing match that, in its demonstration of skill, courage, intelligence, hope, seems to redeem the sport - almost. Perhaps boxing has always been a sport in crisis, a sport of crisis."
I still prefer gatti-ward, but hot damn this us still an amazing fight.
RIP chico corrales
I hate the Texans
by battle axe of doom on May 7, 2011 12:36 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
Great, great fight
One of the best fighters to come out of Sacramento. RIP Chico
"You can have the knowledge that a tomato is a fruit, but it takes wisdom not to put it in a fruit salad." Jerry Reynolds
I was preparing for a performance
and I had the TV tuned to a great, I believe now-defunct program called “Classic Boxing.” It was only a year or less after the fight occurred. The program had fantastic fights every night, dating from the ‘20s and ’30s up until just a year earlier. Anyway, this was the featured fight that night, and I stopped practicing as I watched. I just couldn’t believe what I saw.
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on Bad Left Hook
Related FanShots on Bad Left Hook
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
