The American Boxing School is an international talent forge, which with enviable regularity releases more and more new fighters to the big ring. One of such outstanding athletes, who made a significant contribution to the popularization of boxing not only in the USA, but also in the world, was Diego Corrales.
Personal data
The future second featherweight champion was born on August 25, 1977 in Sacramento, USA. Diego Corrales was the guy who enjoyed the love of others, but at the same time managed to go to jail because of the difficult relationship with his ex-wife. Outside the ring, he was an absolutely calm, balanced and smiling man, but everything changed when the athlete was in the square of the ring.
Career Professionals
Diego Corrales held his first fight according to the rules of professional boxing in March 1996. Three years later, he had a historic battle for himself, knocking out in the seventh round of the then invincible Robert Garcia.
In March 2000, Chico (the nickname of Corrales) won the WBC world title in a fight against Derrick Geiner. The fight was stopped in the 10th round. Six months later, the young talent knocked out the eminent Angel Manfredi, which allowed Diego to strengthen his reputation as the most dangerous boxer.
Offensive defeat
January 20, 2001 Diego Corrales met with Floyd Mayweather Jr. The fight lasted until the tenth round. Diego's coaches threw out the towel, as their ward was simply beaten. During the battle itself, Corrales went on five knockdowns. After many of his attacks, Diego literally turned around because of misses, but the boxer did not give up, proving to everyone that he was a real champion and would never give up. The bitter loss was the first in the career of Chico. Also, an American of Mexican descent lost his title.
Jail
After the fight with Floyd, the Kid was imprisoned on the basis of a court sentence for domestic violence. After spending fourteen months in prison, Diego returned to big boxing again and with doubled fury began to make his way to the top, having spent a series of magnificent battles.
Confrontation with a runaway Cuban
October 2003 Diego fights with representative of Liberty Island Casamayor. In the sixth round, Corrales is injured, the fight stops. The victory by technical knockout is awarded to Hoel. However, six months later (in March 2004), a rematch was held. Its result was the victory of Chico (following the results of all twelve rounds by a separate decision of the judges).
The victory over the Brazilian champion
Boxer Diego Corrales, photo which was repeatedly decorated with a lot of boxing prints, in August 2004 went into battle with Aselino Freitas. For the Brazilian, this was the first defense of the title, but he lost. In the first half of the fight Freitas had some advantage, but after the equator of the fight Diego began to increase momentum and in the eighth round sent the champion to the knockdown. At the same time, Freitas received a warning from the referee for a spit-out mouth guard. In the ninth round, the situation with the mouthguard was repeated and Aselino was shot one point.
In the middle of the tenth round, the beating of Freitas continued and resulted in the refusal of the Brazilian to continue the fight. The referee decided to stop the fight.
The best fight of 2005
The popularity of Chico gained momentum, which was manifested in his numerous interviews and photos. Diego Corrales had a successful duel for himself with the Mexican Jose Luis Castillo. During the battle, Diego knocked down twice, but managed to get together and in the 10th round he snatched the victory from his opponent, thus taking away the WBC and WBO titles from him. Thanks to the final cabin, the fight was recognized by critics and specialists as the best fight of the year.
Revenge
In the fall of 2005, a second meeting of Corrales and Castillo was held. Since the Mexican could not "make weight", the titles were not at stake. The result of the battle was a knockout of Corrales. It is noteworthy that the third fight of these two boxers was planned, but Castillo again could not meet the limit and was forcibly transferred to the next category.
Accident
Unfortunately, Chico was not destined to live a long life. Diego Corrales (the cause of death is a car accident) died on May 7, 2007. According to official figures, at about 10 p.m., the boxer's motorcycle collided with a car, as a result of which the athlete died. Diego was 29 years old. In addition to his wife, he left five children.