Diego "Chico" Corrales anniversary
It’s been one year today since the tragic death of Diego "Chico" Corrales. Corrales was killed in a three-vehicle accident near his Las Vegas home. He was 29 years old. Corrales was riding a 2007 Suzuki GSXR 1000 motorcycle, traveling northbound on Fort Apache Road in the southwest part of the city, when he attempted to pass another vehicle at high speed. Corrales struck the back of a 1997 Honda Accord, Las Vegas police spokesman Sgt. Tracy McDonald said: "The accident occurred at approximately 7:30 p.m. PDT." McDonald said there was no outward evidence of drugs or alcohol involved. He could not say how fast the motorcycle was traveling. However, Corrales was indeed legally drunk, with a blood alcohol level of 0.25, more than three times the legal limit of 0.08 in Nevada. Promoter Gary Shaw said, "He's laying there as we speak with a helmet on his head under a sheet. It appears he was thrown a great distance". Reports say that he was thrown almost the length of a football field.
Ask any boxing fan and I guarantee they can recall in vivid detail where they were at on the morning of May 7, 2007 when news broke of Corrales' fatal motorcycle accident.
I remember when I first met Corrales for the first time at the Staple Center in Los Angeles my brother and couple other friends we’re watching the Erik Morales vs. Zahir Raheem fight when Corrales came from backstage to watch the fight, I remember he was surrounded by boxing fans every one asking to take a picture or get his autograph at that time our seats where not that great it was the upper level, my brother yells from the bleachers “Corrales do you have time for the little people!” and I remember it like it was yesterday Corrales stopped looked at us and started to walk towards us and said “I have time for all the little people” and he just chilled with us for couple of minutes, and to us that was priceless for some one like Corrales to take the time to say hi to nobodies he earn our respect.
Diego "Chico" Corrales (August 25, 1977 – May 7, 2007) was a former super featherweight and lightweight world boxing champion. "Chico" had a professional record of 40-5-0, with 33 wins coming by way of knockout. His first confrontation with Jose Luis Castillo on May 7 2005 will go down as one of the greatest fights ever; this was the fight that sealed his legacy as one of the greatest lower division fighters ever.
Do you recall when you first met Corrales ?
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I do, I met Chico at Staples Center after the Klitschko/Sanders fight. He posed for shots and talked to everyone. Very warm guy and truly nice. He took time to give me 3 shots and talked about his next fight. One of my favorites of all time, RIP Chico.
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