Diego “Chico” Corrales (25 August, 1977 – 7 May, 2007) He was a multiple time world champion in two weight divisions, having held the IBF super featherweight title from 1999 to 2000; the WBO super featherweight title in 2004; the WBO lightweight title from 2004 to 2006; and the Ring magazine, and lineal lightweight titles from 2005 to 2006.

Corrales vs Castillo II

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 II, 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 weighted the 135 lb lightweight limit whereas Castillo weighed 1391/2 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 Casamoyor on October 7, 2006. However, Corrales weighted in 5 pounds over the limit. He was fiven 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 partner.

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, Corrales attempted to pass another vehicle at high speed, but Corrales struck the back of the 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.