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.