Boxing loses a legendary warrior

It might have been the greatest fight in boxing history.

May 7, 2005, Diego “Chico” Corrales stepped into the ring with Jose Luis Castillo at the Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas in a bout to unify the lightweight titles.

Corrales had 40 wins under his belt, along with a handful of successful defenses of his super flyweight belts. His only pair of losses came to Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Joel Casamayor.

Corrales’ brawling style and never-say-die attitude had won him a legion of fans over his 11-year boxing career. He possessed an explosive left hook and a chin made out of granite.

Corrales and Castillo were throwing massive power shots from the opening bell. Castillo was a legendary champion in his own right and a hero in his native Mexico.

Few thought the two men could maintain their frantic opening-round pace throughout the 12-round bout, but each round featured non-stop action and drama.

By the fourth round, each man had cuts, scrapes and bruises scattered all over his face.

Castillo took charge in the seventh, landing countless body blows while trying to set up his devastating overhand right.

Corrales didn’t back down and started throwing power shots of his own.

The crowd stood and cheered after each round as these two gladiators brought back memories of Ali-Frazier, Hagler-Hearns, Gatti-Ward and the other legendary bouts that first caused people to fall in love with boxing.

The ninth round featured more action than most full fights. After the break-neck pace of that round, it was clear that this fight was not going to be decided by technical skill. It would instead be determined solely by guts, grit and determination.

The first nine rounds served as an action-packed prologue to the 10th—simply the most dramatic round since Rocky Balboa knocked out Apollo Creed.

A round like this could only happen in real life, because a screenwriter would’ve called the outcome absurd.

Castillo had seized the momentum, yet again. Twenty-seven seconds into the round, Castillo sent Corrales to the canvas with an unbelievable left hook. Castillo confidently walked toward the neutral corner, convinced that he had finally ended the bout.

Corrales spit out his mouthpiece to buy an extra couple seconds to collect himself. With his legs wobbling and his eyes swelling shut, few thought Corrales could continue.

After referee Tony Weeks checked Corrales, he allowed the fight to continue. Castillo pounced on his opponent and knocked him down for a second time 30 seconds later with a left uppercut to the chin.

Corrales spit out his mouthpiece for a second time, resulting in a one-point deduction. With his back against the wall and his trainer threatening to throw in the towel, things looked bleak for “Chico.”

After Weeks allowed the fight to resume, Corrales started bobbing and weaving out of the way of Castillo’s power shots.

Suddenly, Corrales connected with a left hook that staggered Castillo. The crowd erupted as Corrales moved in for the kill.

Another left hook found its mark, and Castillo was clearly in trouble against the ropes.

Castillo battled back, pushing Corrales off and clearing space for his own two-punch combinations.

With a minute left in the round, another left hook stunned Castillo and he was out on his feet.

Castillo landed another half-dozen uncontested shots before Weeks stepped in to end the fight.

Corrales thrust his right hand into the air as the crowd exploded. As his trainer lifted him into the air, Corrales’ punched-up face wore an expression of shock and elation, as if he was fully aware that he had etched his name permanently into the annals of boxing history.

Two years to the day after his greatest triumph, Corrales crashed his motorcycle in Las Vegas and died on impact. He was 29 years old.

The last two years had been rough for Corrales, almost as if he couldn’t live up to the legend he had built after the first Castillo bout.

He struggled to make weight for the inevitable rematch with Castillo, resulting in an embarrassing fourth-round knockout.

The 135-pound weight limit had always been a struggle for Corrales, who often weighed close to 160 pounds between fights.

He struggled yet again to make weight for his rematch with Casamayor, but a weak and weary Corrales battled valiantly for 12 rounds, eventually losing a tight split decision.

His final fight took place at welterweight against quick, young prospect Joshua Clottey. Corrales failed to mount any effective offensive flurries and lost a lopsided decision.

With his career at a crossroads, many assumed Corrales (40-5, 33 KOs) would consider retirement.

But boxing was in Corrales’ blood. Few men fought with as much passion and determination.

His style stood in stark contrast to what boxing fans witnessed on Saturday night, as Mayweather and Oscar De La Hoya danced their way to an uneventful split decision.

After the so-called “fight of the century” fell flat with a drama-free thud, Corrales’ untimely death serves as a reminder that fighters with his sense of the moment are few and far between.

nprevenas@gvnews.com | 547-9736