Say A Prayer For Chico Corrales
By Robert Brizel, Real Combat Media Correspondent
Las Vegas, Nevada (February 14th, 2013)–At Palm Memorial Park in Las Vegas, Nevada, actor Tony Curtis, comedian Redd Foxx, entertainer Danny Gans, Wimbledon tennis champion Pancho Gonzales, and and World Series of Poker champion Stu Ungar share their final resting ground with Diego ‘Chico’ Corrales, the former Super Featherweight and Lightweight World champion whose come from behind victory in the tenth round over Jose Luis Castillo in May 2005 remains one of the most exciting moments in boxing history.
Whereas Paul ‘The Punisher’ Williams got into a motorcycle accident and lived to tell the story, two years to the day and moment of his victory over Castillo, Diego ‘Chico’ Corrales did not live to tell the story. Chico died on his motorcycle amidst the glitz and glitter of the Las Vegas strip, a strange casualty of this town, where gambling away one’s fortune is far more common than gambling away one’s life.
In the last 42 months of his career, Chico lost four of his last seven bouts, including lost his last three bouts. he did not win a round in his final bout against Joshua Clottey in Missouri in April 2007, with one judge giving Chico only 87 points in the ten rounder. Down twice in the tenth and final round, Chico’s career was probably ended for good against Clottey, his skills and heart just memories now. He knew it.
One wonders what was going through an intoxicated Chico’s mind as he cruised on his motorcycle round the Vegas strip, alone in his sad thoughts on the night of May 7, 2007. It is not difficult to figure out. It was Chico’s magic moment, when he finished Jose Luis Castillo on the ropes and realized the high point of his career. Higher than August 7, 2004, when Chico finished 35-0 Acelino Freitas at Foxwoods Resort, in the tenth round. Even higher than getting stopped in the tenth round by 24-0 Floyd Mayweather Jr. on January 20, 2001. Perhaps after beating Castillo, Chico had nowhere else to go in his own mind, nothing else to prove, and did not want to hurt people anymore. Such can happen in a boxer’s mind, such is life.
Diego ‘Chico’ Corrales was legally drunk on his motorcycle when he had his accident and died. Chico was only 29 years old. The late great Barney Ross saw his lightweight career end at age 27 when he lost to Henry Armstrong in 1938. Ross did not have time to think like Chico did, however. Barney Ross enlisted in the Marines and was a much decorated veteran of Guadalcanal during World War II, who later had to overcome addiction to pain medication due to his war wounds received.
Having lost to Joshua Clottey a month earlier, and now facing the loss of the boxing limelight he had in during his best years, Chico must have suffered because he knew in his heart his boxing career was over. Chico had planned to fight a third rubber match with Jose Luis Castillo. Chico had not won a fight in two years when he crashed. Perhaps he crashed emotionally long before his motorcycle did. It’s hard to say. Chico has such a beautiful tombstone, doomed to be forgotten. My friends, say a prayer for Chico Corrales. Remember his Hall of Fame moment. Amen brother.
Diego Corrales vs Jose Luis Castillo (10th Round)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=imZaiGJgbsw
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