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A Tribute to Diego “Chico” Corrales – A True Legend

posted by Kathleen Holland on May 6, 2008, in Features

Photos by Chris McGee
Story by Billie Walker

It will soon be one year since the untimely death of one of boxing’s greatest ever. Diego “Chico” Corrales.

As May 7 approaches, one could only wish that that day in 2007 had never happened. It has left a gaping hole in so many hearts and a huge void in the boxing ring.

There are not many boxers with the tenacity and strong will of Diego Corrales. When he entered the ring, you could feel something! He was ready! Always ready to battle and brawl! No man ever entered the ring with more bravery and less fear than Diego Corrales. He would have died in the ring on any given day if had to, just for us, his fans.

He loved boxing. He loved being a boxer. I had the honor and privilege of being one of the lucky ones to have attended the Corrales-Castillo I fight. I knew this fight was going to be something special, but nothing could have prepared us for what we witnessed that night. It was totally unbelievable! Being there was totally unbelievable! This was history!

Punch after punch, blow after blow, the assault and punishment continued. It was relentless! When Diego went down, my heart sank for only one brief moment. “No wait! This is Diego Corrales! He’ll get up! And he did. When he went down a second time, again I knew he’d get up and he did!

With both eyes swollen shut, he fought back and not only won, but he did it in the most spectacular way – a standing knockout!

History and courage were defined that night. He showed us the true definition of courage – to never give and never stop trying, no matter how bad things look. I saw something that night that I will never see again – what a true warrior is!

Maybe giving that greatest defining moment to the world of boxing took more out of him that we will ever know.

Diego Corrales lost his last three fights to Castillo, Casamayor and Clottey. Three straight losses would be devastating for any boxer’s career, but had it not been for that fateful night, Diego Corrales would have, some how, some way, found a way to come back and win. No matter what anyone would say, it would have happened!

He didn’t know how to give up or quit. It was not who Diego Corrales was.

In life he had a beautiful, loving wife and family and a new baby on the way. If he were here today, his life would be happy. He would be ok.

This has been a hard year, but as we reflect on his life today, please remember him as he truly was. He loved life; he loved fun and at times lived and played hard. He loved excitement, including his motorcycle. He was a good man with a good, kind heart. He loved people and he loved his fans. I watched many a times when he would stand or sit and sign every autograph, take every photo and talk to every fan, no matter how long it would take.

The night of the Castillo vs Hatton fight was especially sad for me. That Corrales-Castillo connection is forever in my heart. When Castillo entered the ring that night, it became real to me. There would never again be another Corrales-Castillo fight. The reality was sinking in. All I could do was sit down and cry. Diego Corrales would be entering the ring no more!

If you ever get the honor of visiting his grave, you will see the marker is engraved with another of his warrior moments, from the first Casamayor fight. His mouthpiece had cut the inside of his mouth, which resulted in the fight being stopped by the doctor, due to the profuse bleeding. Diego pleaded with her not to stop the fight, but to “just give me one more round!”

Even now, if given the opportunity, I’m sure that Diego would still ask for one more round.

The night of this horrible tragedy, I did not go to the crash scene. I felt it was too private, too personal for his family to endure. They didn’t need onlookers, but they came anyway. Most could not stay away, because they too loved and adored this hero of the ring!

The memorial at the crash site still stands. The fans still come there to stand, to ponder, to wish that on that final night, their hero and champ could have gotten up just one more time.

As I reflect on the life of Diego Corrales I know what a privilege and honor it was for all of us who got to know him personally and love him. He has left an impression in our hearts and lives that will be everlasting.

He now exists in our memories with other greats such as Joe Louis, Floyd Patterson and all the others that have gone on before him. They are in a place where they can talk boxing and spar as many rounds, without the threats of cuts, knockouts and impending death.

They are in the real boxing hall of fame – “Heaven”

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