Diego “Chico” Corrales

09.05.07 - By KIRK LANG, Photos by Naoki Fukuda/WBC: Diego Corrales, who would rather have died in the ring than quit like Acelino Freitas did two weeks ago against WBA-WBO lightweight champion Juan Diaz – and like Freitas quit against Corrales three years earlier – was one of boxing’s ultimate warriors.

His tragic life was cut short Monday night as a result of a motorcycle accident near his home in Las Vegas. You will be missed Diego.

Saturday night’s fight between Oscar de la Hoya and Floyd Mayweather was billed as a match-up that could possibly save boxing. No one fight can save boxing, especially when the general public craves action and de la Hoya and Mayweather engage in a less than thrilling affair. However, Corrales, throughout his career, gave boxing fans and non-boxing fans countless action-packed and thrilling fights. Heck, he probably converted casual fans into die-hard enthusiasts of the Sweet Science. continue