Diego Corrales


Diego "Chico" Corrales Jr. was an American professional boxer who competed from 1996 to 2007. He was a multiple-time world champion in two weight divisions, having held the International Boxing Federation super featherweight title from 1999 to 2000; the World Boxing Organisation super featherweight title in 2004; the WBO lightweight title from 2004 to 2006; and the World Boxing Council, and Ring magazine lightweight titles from 2005 to 2006.
In 2005, Corrales received Fight of the Year honors by The Ring and the Boxing Writers Association of America for his acclaimed first bout with José Luis Castillo.
Corrales was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame as part of the class of 2024.

Early life

Corrales was born in Columbia, South Carolina to a Colombian father, Diego Corrales Sr. and a Mexican mother. Corrales' early life was filled with violence; he was raised in the Oak Park section of Sacramento, was involved with street gangs at age 13, and witnessed his best friend's death via drive-by shooting. Corrales had a degree in culinary arts. He trained at "Sac Pal" Boxing Gym.

Amateur career

Corrales compiled an amateur boxing record of 105–12. In 1994, he took second place at the United States Amateur Championships, losing to Frankie Carmona on points in the featherweight final.
He reached the first round of the featherweight bracket at the 1995 Pan American Games, losing to Arnaldo Mesa. At the 1995 World Championships, he lost out on a medal after losing to Marco Rudolph in the lightweight bracket.

Professional career

Super featherweight

Corrales vs. Mayweather

On January 20, 2001, Corrales challenged Ring No. 2 ranked Super Featherweight and #7 Pound-For-Pound Floyd Mayweather Jr. for the WBC super featherweight title and recorded his first knockdown and first loss. In the bout, Mayweather knocked down Corrales five times. After the fifth knockdown, Corrales' corner stopped the fight, despite Corrales' protests.
Shortly after the Mayweather fight, Corrales served 14 months in prison after opting for a plea bargain on charges he faced for abusing his pregnant wife, Maria.

Corrales vs. Casamayor I & II

In 2003, Corrales returned to the ring. After easily winning four fights, Corrales fought against Ring No. 1 ranked Super Featherweight Joel Casamayor. After the sixth round, the fight was stopped because of a deep cut inside of Corrales' mouth. On March 6, 2004, there was a rematch for the vacant WBO super featherweight title. Corrales won by close split decision.

Lightweight

Corrales vs. Freitas

On August 7, 2004, Corrales fought former two-time Super Featherweight champion and current WBO Lightweight champion, Acelino Freitas, who came into the bout unbeaten. Corrales won the fight, via TKO in the tenth round, making Corrales a two weight champion. Freitas won the early rounds, but by the later rounds he was visibly tired and began to be caught by Corrales. After rising from his third knockdown, Freitas walked away from the referee and quit.

Corrales vs. Castillo I

On May 7, 2005, Corrales defeated WBC and Ring Lightweight champion José Luis Castillo via TKO in the tenth round, giving Corrales his fourth title in 2 weight classes. The fight is almost universally regarded as the best fight of 2005. Both men stood in front of each other, battering each other with hard combinations and power punches throughout the entire fight. Finally, in the tenth round, Castillo knocked Corrales down. Seconds later, Castillo knocked Corrales down again. Corrales managed to beat the count, and, after a point was taken away for excessive spitting out of the mouthpiece, Corrales connected with a punch that Castillo later called "a perfect right hand." Corrales then trapped Castillo against the ropes and landed numerous punches, causing the referee, Tony Weeks, to stop the fight.

Corrales vs. Castillo II

A rematch between Corrales and Castillo occurred on October 8, 2005. On the day before the fight, Castillo weighed-in 3½ lb over the lightweight limit. Since Castillo did not make the weight, the fight became a non-title bout. The two fighters continued with the same fighting style that they had used in the first fight, trading inside punches throughout the first three rounds. Early in the fourth round, Castillo knocked down Corrales with a left hook to his chin. Corrales wobbled to his feet at the referee's count of ten, causing the fight to end.
Corrales vs. Castillo III, dubbed "The War to Settle the Score," had been scheduled for February 4, 2006, but it was postponed because of a rib injury that Corrales suffered while training. The fight was rescheduled for June 3, 2006. At the weigh-in, however, Corrales weighed the lightweight limit whereas Castillo weighed 139½ lb—causing the fight to be cancelled. Corrales later sued Castillo for punitive damages.

Corrales vs. Casamayor III

Corrales was scheduled to defend his lightweight title in a third bout against Joel Casamayor on October 7, 2006. However, Corrales weighed in 5 pounds over the limit. He was given two hours to shed five pounds, but came back at 139 pounds. Corrales would have been stripped of the title if he had won the bout, but Casamayor defeated him by split decision for the WBC and The Ring lightweight titles.
On April 7, 2007, fighting in the welterweight division, Corrales lost a unanimous decision to Joshua Clottey. Corrales was dropped in rounds 9 and 10 and lost by the scores of 97–90, 98–89 and 100–87.

Prison

Corrales served 14 months in the Deuel Vocational Institution, a correctional facility in San Joaquin County, California, after being convicted of domestic battery on his then pregnant girlfriend.

Death

On May 7, 2007, exactly two years to the day after his first fight with Castillo, Corrales was killed in a three-vehicle accident near his Las Vegas home. Corrales was riding a 2007 Suzuki GSXR 1000 motorcycle, traveling northbound on Fort Apache Road in the southwest part of the Las Vegas Valley when he struck the back of a car and was thrown more than 100 feet into oncoming traffic and struck by another vehicle. An ambulance was called by the witnesses at the scene, Corrales was rushed to a hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival. Las Vegas police spokesman Sgt. Tracy McDonald said: "The accident occurred at approximately 7:30 p.m. PDT." McDonald could not say how fast the motorcycle was traveling. Corrales' blood alcohol content was 0.25 at the time of the crash, approximately 3 times the legal limit for Nevada.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
45Loss40–5Joshua ClotteyUD10Apr 7, 2007Abou Ben Adhem Shrine Mosque, Springfield, Missouri, U.S.
44Loss40–4Joel CasamayorSD12Oct 7, 2006Mandalay Bay Events Center, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.WBC and The Ring lightweight titles at stake;
only for Casamayor as Corrales missed weight
43Loss40–3Jose Luis CastilloKO4, 0:47Oct 8, 2005Thomas & Mack Center, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
42Win40–2José Luis CastilloTKO10, 2:06May 7, 2005Mandalay Bay Events Center, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.Retained WBO lightweight title;
Won WBC and The Ring lightweight titles
41Win39–2Acelino FreitasTKO10, 1:24Aug 7, 2004Foxwoods Resort Casino, Ledyard, Connecticut, U.S.Won WBO lightweight title
40Win38–2Joel Casamayor12Mar 6, 2004Foxwoods Resort Casino, Ledyard, Connecticut, U.S.Won IBA and vacant WBO super featherweight titles
39Loss37–2Joel CasamayorTKO6, 3:00Oct 4, 2003Mandalay Bay Events Center, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.For vacant IBA super featherweight title
38Win37–1Damian FullerKO3, 1:48Jun 20, 2003Home Depot Center, Carson, California, U.S.
37Win36–1Felix St KittsTKO3, 1:36Apr 24, 2003Grand Casino, Gulfport, Mississippi, U.S.
36Win35–1Roque CassianiRTD1, 3:00Feb 22, 2003The Pyramid, Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.
35Win34–1Michael DavisTKO5 Jan 25, 2003Bally's Park Place, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
34Loss33–1Floyd Mayweather Jr.TKO10, 2:19Jan 20, 2001MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.For WBC super featherweight title
33Win33–0Angel ManfredyTKO3, 2:38Sep 2, 2000Don Haskins Center, El Paso, Texas, U.S.Retained IBF and IBA super featherweight titles
32Win32–0Justin JuukoKO10, 2:35Jun 17, 2000Staples Center, Los Angeles, California, U.S.Retained IBA super featherweight title
31Win31–0Derrick GainerTKO3, 1:50Mar 18, 2000MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.Retained IBF super featherweight title;
Won vacant IBA super featherweight title
30Win30–0John BrownUD12Dec 4, 1999Chinook Winds Casino, Lincoln City, Oregon, U.S.Retained IBF super featherweight title
29Win29–0Robert GarciaTKO7, 0:48Oct 23, 1999MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.Won IBF super featherweight title
28Win28–0Angel Aldama4, 3:00Jun 12, 1999Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, Indio, California, U.S.Won vacant IBA Intercontinental lightweight title
27Win27–0Claudio Victor MartinetTKO5, 2:06Apr 2, 1999Convention Center, Chattanooga, Tennessee, U.S.
26Win26–0Gairy St. ClairUD12Dec 18, 1998Yosemite Hall, Sacramento, California, U.S.
25Win25–0Hector ArroyoTKO5, 1:01Nov 20, 1998The Orleans, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
24Win24–0Benito RodriguezKO6Sep 12, 1998Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, Indio, California, U.S.
23Win23–0Rafael MorfinTKO2Aug 15, 1998Grand Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
22Win22–0Benito Rodriguez7, 2:49Jul 5, 1998Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, Indio, California, U.S.Unanimous TD after Rodriguez could not continue from an accidental low blow
21Win21–0Eduardo ContrerasKO2, 1:12May 30, 1998Grand Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
20Win20–0Juan Carlos SalazarKO1Apr 18, 1998Grand Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
19Win19–0Angel AldamaUD10Dec 4, 1997Memorial Auditorium, Sacramento, California, U.S.
18Win18–0Juan Angel MaciasKO6, 2:35Oct 18, 1997Star of the Desert Arena, Primm, Nevada, U.S.Retained IBA Intercontinental lightweight title
17Win17–0Isagani PumarKO4, 2:28Aug 22, 1997Memorial Auditorium, Sacramento, California, U.S.
16Win16–0Manny CastilloTKO11 0:48Jul 11, 1997Memorial Auditorium, Sacramento, California, U.S.Won vacant IBA Intercontinental lightweight title
15Win15–0Javier PichardoKO2, 2:47May 9, 1997The Orleans, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.Retained IBA Intercontinental super featherweight title
14Win14–0Steve QuinonezTKO4, 2:21Apr 4, 1997The Orleans, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.Won vacant IBA Intercontinental super featherweight title
13Win13–0Idelfonso BernalTKO2, 0:34Mar 14, 1997Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.
12Win12–0Salvador MontesKO1 Jan 13, 1997Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S.
11Win11–0Julian VasquezKO1Dec 16, 1996Tijuana, Mexico
10Win10–0Mario GonzalezKO1Dec 13, 1996Tecate, Mexico
9Win9–0Juan SantosTKO1Nov 29, 1996Tijuana, Mexico
8Win8–0Sergio MaciasTKO4, 1:46Oct 11, 1996Texas Station, North Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
7Win7–0Murphy HughesKO1, 2:52Sep 13, 1996Knapp Center, Des Moines, Iowa, U.S.
6Win6–0Cesar MoralesTKO2 Aug 17, 1996Sports Stadium, Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S.
5Win5–0Lorenzo Raul Chaires1 Jun 27, 1996Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.
4Win4–0Ciro CanalesUD4Jun 7, 1996Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
3Win3–0Victor Manuel MendozaTKO3, 2:59May 30, 1996Celebrity Theatre, Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.
2Win2–0Enrique Beltran4Mar 28, 1996Celebrity Theatre, Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.
1Win1–0Everett Barry3, 1:12Mar 19, 1996Club Rio, Tempe, Arizona, U.S.