9 years ago the greatest fight I've ever seen in my lifetime took place
Diego Corrales' epic win nine years ago won't soon be forgotten | Boxing - Yahoo Sports
Diego Corrales lost his life.
The caller who asked, 'Have you heard anything about Diego," had heard that Corrales had wrecked his motorcycle. A phone call to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police confirmed that there had been a serious traffic accident, possibly a fatal, a little while earlier not far from where Corrales lived.
Arriving on the scene, yellow police tape blocking the area, I parked in a nearby apartment complex and walked over to speak to the officer in charge. He confirmed the worst news.
Diego Corrales, champion, husband, father and friend to so many, was dead at 29.
It was a tragic ending to a somewhat tragic life. He'd done some bad things, and spent time in jail on a domestic violence conviction, but you'd have been hard-pressed to find anyone in Las Vegas who knew him who didn't adore him.
The fans loved him and he loved them back. He would gleefully sign autographs, pose for pictures and talk boxing for hours with his fans. The media loved him because he was approachable, accessible and always had something interesting to say.
And promoters loved him because he was a guaranteed must-watch fighter. He always put on a show.
Never, however, did he put on a better show than he did when he defeated Castillo on May 7, 2005.
The date always evokes emotion, pure exuberance when thinking of 2005 and unabashed sadness when remembering 2007.
He's gone, far, far, far too early, but the good thing is, Diego Corrales is not forgotten. Not will he ever be by those who knew him.
View gallery
.
Diego Corrales (R) stops Jose Luis Castillo in the 10th round of their WBO/WBC lightweight title fight in Las Vegas
Diego Corrales' epic win nine years ago won't soon be forgotten | Boxing - Yahoo Sports
Diego Corrales lost his life.
The caller who asked, 'Have you heard anything about Diego," had heard that Corrales had wrecked his motorcycle. A phone call to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police confirmed that there had been a serious traffic accident, possibly a fatal, a little while earlier not far from where Corrales lived.
Arriving on the scene, yellow police tape blocking the area, I parked in a nearby apartment complex and walked over to speak to the officer in charge. He confirmed the worst news.
Diego Corrales, champion, husband, father and friend to so many, was dead at 29.
It was a tragic ending to a somewhat tragic life. He'd done some bad things, and spent time in jail on a domestic violence conviction, but you'd have been hard-pressed to find anyone in Las Vegas who knew him who didn't adore him.
The fans loved him and he loved them back. He would gleefully sign autographs, pose for pictures and talk boxing for hours with his fans. The media loved him because he was approachable, accessible and always had something interesting to say.
And promoters loved him because he was a guaranteed must-watch fighter. He always put on a show.
Never, however, did he put on a better show than he did when he defeated Castillo on May 7, 2005.
The date always evokes emotion, pure exuberance when thinking of 2005 and unabashed sadness when remembering 2007.
He's gone, far, far, far too early, but the good thing is, Diego Corrales is not forgotten. Not will he ever be by those who knew him.
View gallery
.
Diego Corrales (R) stops Jose Luis Castillo in the 10th round of their WBO/WBC lightweight title fight in Las Vegas
