By RICH MANCUSO
Staff Writer www.fightnightnews.com
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Normally in this business one doesn't get too close to an athlete. You
could lose your objectivity that way. Exceptions do occur, though, and this was the case with lightweight champion Diego Corrrales who visited New York this past weekend. |
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 Photo by Tom Casino/Showtime |
Corrales, perhaps considered one of the top fighters by the experts with
one of the legendary fights in boxing history last year, a dramatic 10th round come from behind knockout over Jose Luis Castillo, seems to enjoy life out of the ring. He came to the city last weekend to do a spot on the ESPN Friday Night Fights and also took in a few Broadway plays with |
| his wife, Michele, and 13-year old daughter. 'It's a big city but I wouldn't want to live here,' he said with a smile. That's because Corrales lives in the quiet side of town out in Las Vegas, away from the lights and gambling of sin city. He was able to spend some quality time with his wife and also wanted to spend time with me. The champ called me his "favorite writer" but I won't let that make my head swollen. But Corrales is different from other boxers. He is a people person and will accommodate all media that come to him, some more than others for their honesty and perspective of the situation. The situation was a month ago when his third fight with Castillo was canned because of a weight issue. Castillo failed to make weight at 138, Corrales did, and now there is some animosity. Corrales and his promoter, Gary Shaw, have filed a mega million lawsuit against Castillo and promoter Top Rank, also seeking punitive damages for their failure to comply with the weight issue in the contract. That happens in boxing, sometime too often and it has befuddled the champion. 'I still can't understand why he did that again when he knew it happened once already,' said Corrales. Castillo failed to make weight in their second fight back in December, a, fight Corrales took non-title at a higher weight where he lost. 'He is a fraud and a fool; I have no respect for him and will move on,' said Corrales about his adversary. After trying to strike out Barry Bonds in a batting cage test Cage, at the ESPN Zone over in Times Square, Corrales laughed after failing twice. He said 'I intend to fight once more this year, probably October.' Then he tried to challenge Bonds again. Another failed attempt at getting Bonds and he moved on to challenging his wife shooting hoops. There he did better. 'I'll stick to the boxing,' he said. After that possible fight in October, Showtime is in the process of putting it together, he wants to go in the ring three more times and then call it quits. 'I am not in this for the long run,' he said. And he intends to move up in weight, 147 or more, for his next few and test the waters with WBO junior welterweight champ Miguel Cotto or Floyd Mayweather.' 'Maybe we can fight right in there,' he said later on, after leaving ESPN and walking past Madison Square Garden. It is The Mecca of boxing and a place where every fighter dreams to do their best. it is in the Garden where Corrales feels his legacy would be etched in stone. 'Man, a place where Ali made history; what a place,' he said. I saw a side of Corrales that most have not viewed. He was relaxing, and enjoying life. He is a cycle enthusiast and video game fanatic. 'Keeps your mind occupied from the business,' he said. Boxing is a job for him and since that epic first fight battle with Castillo he hasn't changed. 'I'm a people person,' he said, 'but very selective,' meaning there is no entourage surrounding Corrales. The calls and opportunity came after that first fight with Castillo, as did the awards. He attended the Boxing Writers of America Awards banquet in May out in Vegas, (Fighter of the Year) and recently completed working with actor Rob Schneider, a minor role in an upcoming movie. 'I'm not going to tell you much about it,' said Corrales about his venture on the big screen. 'But it is something to look forward to when I finish boxing. You get a script, go over it a few times and it is over.' His persona on the screen is what impresses the industry. Corrales is soft spoken, not as hard as the punches he threw at Castillo, or the ones he threw at Joel Casamayor. The two fights with Casamayor, a TKO sixth round loss in 2003 and a split decision at Foxwoods in March of 2004 that gave him the vacant WBO featherweight title set up the war with Castillo. But Csamayor is still trash talking. Corrales heard that first hand up in Bristol Connecticut at the ESPN studios. 'Why do I need to fight him again,' said Corrales. 'I have nothing else to prove with him. It is time to move on. I beat him, he knows that.. And controversy still surrounds the champion along with the fame. He hears the accolades about that epic with Castillo and also the mouthpiece issue in that 10th round when he hit the canvas. 'That's boxing for you,' Corrales said. "But Castillo didn't make a sacrifice,' said Corrales once again referring to the trilogy that fizzled out. 'The worst part is the fans were robbed who came to Vegas, spent a lot of money and got nothing. It is a distraction to boxing a sport I love. But the score is settled. I am the best lightweight and wasn't going to fight as a welterweight. when we were supposed to be at 138.' His thoughts on Juan Diaz the lightweight holder of the title for the WBA, a fight Corrales would consider' 'We can do it,' he said, 'but from what I am hearing he doesn't want it. The fans deserve a unified champion, don't you think so'' he asked. And when the long evening ended it was the family man showing his pride. Corrales proudly showed pictures of his three-month old daughter, Dylia,in his arms. 'She is everything to me right now,' he said. And the few who recognized Corrales on the corner of 53rd and Broadway before he entered the lobby of the Doubletree Suites in Times Square came over and met the champion. Corrales said he weighed 178 pounds. 'I like to eat,' he said, 'but I can lose the weight when I have to because it is my job.' And when he returned to Vegas, though a fight is not signed, Corrales said he was going to resume hs running and training in the gym. 'Corrales you are the best I have seen in my lifetime,' one fan said after getting an autograph. 'I'm fine and I thank you, thank you,' said the champion. That is my up close and personal look at "Chico." He is quite a fighter and quite a man. |
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