TalkingBoxing with DIEGO CORRALES
"DON'T..MISS..MAY..7TH! It's going to be HELL ON WHEELS!"
by
Coyote Duran
4/21 - Aren't second chances groovy? Don't answer that. You know they are. And they come in all varieties and degrees, too, for all kinds of folks.
Take for instance, super-cool, yet brooding actor David Caruso. One year into his gig as super-cool, yet brooding detective Jon Kelly on NYPD Blue, Caruso got too big for his TV pants and decided he was leaving to go make movies with Nicolas Cage and Carrot Top.......or.....someone like that. Well, the critics weren't too kind to Caruso or his career move and pretty much stomped all over him for everything he did from then on out. But one day, The Second Chance Fairy popped in on Caruso and tapped him in the melon with a wand and said, "Get up and go to work, Carrot Top." Next thing you know, Caruso's on CSI: Miami (Free plug, CBS! Hook me up with a T-shirt!!!!!!) as super-cool, yet brooding Lieutenant Horatio Caine and he lived happily ever after instead of crappily ever after.
Nice, huh? What was my point? I forgot. Oh, yeah!!! Second chances, Howlers! Boxing is full of second chances made good and turned into gold but one man really personifies the justice of the second chance: Diego "Chico" Corrales. It wasn't long ago after a TKO loss to then-WBC Super Featherweight boss Floyd Mayweather Jr. (that saw Corrales taste the canvas 5 times only to keep getting up!), that Corrales pleaded to domestic abuse charges in order to receive an abbreviated incarceration when his first wife, Maria accused him of such unsavory behavior. Upon his release, Corrales (39-2 with 32 KOs), with the undying support of a new corner person, his wife Maria, made his march back to regain the respect and the opportunities deserving of a still young and hungry contender.
Corrales worked madly to make his comeback, fighting 5 times in 2003 and racking up 4 KO wins before facing Joel Casamayor in an IBF Junior Lightweight title eliminator in October. But just as Corrales was riding the crest of his momentous wave, the ride came to a halt when Las Vegas' chief ringside physician Dr. Margaret Goodman stopped the fight (Justifiably so, in my opinion. Swallowing blood is an absolute bitch.) in the sixth round due to severe lacerations in Corrales' mouth.
In a damn-right odd course of events, a Corrales-Casamayor rematch was infused with drama when Casamayor broke ties with his trainer Joe Goossen. At the same time, Corrales severed his relationship with trainer Kenny Adams. So much like boxing's version of a Reese's peanut butter cup, the trainer-without-a-fighter and the fighter-without-a-trainer-came-together to create something pretty special.
And special it was, homeys. The new Corrales-Casamayor tandem returned to not only conquer Goossen's former student via split decision (for the vacant WBO Super Featherweight belt) but hand out a come-from-behind-in-points beatdown to the seemingly invincible Argentinean, Acelino Freitas, also giving Freitas his very first loss while annexing Freitas' WBO Lightweight strap in August 2004.
Cue to the present day where we find Corrales gearing up to face the biggest professional challenge of his reborn career: Jose Luis Castillo (52-6-1 with 46 KOs), The Ring Magazine World Lightweight Champion and 2-time WBC Lightweight titleholder. Fresh off his March TKO win over former IBF Lightweight titlist Julio Diaz, Castillo will dive once again into deep water on Saturday, May 7 live at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. At-home viewers can peep the fight when Showtime Championship Boxing provides the broadcast at 9 PM ET/PT.
I got the opportunity to speak to the man who got the best out of his second chance. When talking to "Chico", you can almost hear a smile in his voice. Bouncy and full of enthusiasm, Diego Corrales is the kind of guy you could probably hangout and play video games and swap stupid jokes with. "Chico" gave me the lowdown on his relationship with Goossen, the power of Karma, his beautiful wife and the one word he uses to describe his current career.
Read on, Howlers. I hope you enjoy reading this as much as I enjoyed conducting it.........And by the way, I actually do enjoy David Caruso on CSI. I just figured I'd get that one out.
DIEGO "CHICO" CORRALES
Coyote Duran: Hey Chico! How is everything? Can I call you Chico, Chico?
Diego Corrales: (Enthusiastically) Yeah! I'd prefer that!
Coyote Duran: Excellent, dude. Bring us up to speed, Chico. How’s preparation coming along for your meeting with Jose Luis Castillo?
Diego Corrales: It's goin' great, man! We've been working hard. We've been at camp for a long time. I'd be happy if we fought this weekend but I guess I'll wait 'til May 7th. (Laughs)
Coyote Duran: I can imagine the anxiety! So are you pretty close to fighting weight right now?
Diego Corrales: Yeah we're almost ready. At fight weight and everything. We're just sitting back keeping it together right now.
Coyote Duran: For those who don’t know the details, Chico, can you bring us up to speed on why the first proposed match between you and Castillo fell through?
Diego Corrales: The first proposed match didn't go through between me and Castillo......(Thinking)..That was........I don't know exactly why that one didn't go down. It had something to do with the money and real short notice. That one was kinda funny. That was kinda funky. So that one, of course, didn't happen.
Coyote Duran: I can imagine you still really wanted to fight Castillo after his fight with (former IBF Lightweight titlist) Julio Diaz (Coyote's note: Diaz nobly vacated his belt in order to secure the fight with Castillo. Take that, Marian.). I do have to ask, who were you rooting for in that fight and why?
Diego Corrales: You know what? I've known Julio Diaz for a long, long time. I know his family very, very well. So, because my heart goes with Julio and because I've been so close to the guy and his family, I kinda pulled for Julio to pull that one out just for the sake of him being a friend and me being so close to his family.
Coyote Duran: Of course. Castillo has his hands full with Joel Casamayor and he handled Diaz relatively easily. What did you learn from these fights about Castillo that will benefit your strategy?
Diego Corrales: I think, the first thing is, a little bit of movement, nice pivots will make a big difference. Those nice pivots are gonna make a big difference in this fight. Also, if you've got really good pop, he's not gonna be so willing to step in and try to walk through you which is one thing that Casamayor has a little bit of. He (Casamayor) has some good power. He has some good pop in his shots. I think that's what kept him at bay. He wasn't so quick to jump in there and try to muscle and manhandle.
Coyote Duran: This fight isn’t just for your WBO and Castillo’s WBC belts. It’s also for The Ring Magazine's World Championship. Does that belt make this fight more important to you or, at this stage of your career, do belts even matter in the equation these days?
Diego Corrales: Yeah, they're always great to have. Everything makes a difference so The Ring belt and everything is part of this fight and it makes the dramatics of the fight and the cost of the fight even bigger and more grand so of course, it's (The Ring belt) a big part of it all.
Coyote Duran: It goes without saying that Joe Goossen is a master trainer, Chico. How has his calm, Zen-like demeanor influenced you in the ring? Has it made you more relaxed?
Diego Corrales: Oh yeah. I mean, when you've got a guy who can handle hard situations in the corner with no worries, no problems, he doesn't get upset, he doesn't get worried, doesn't raise his voice, he gladly does his job, and he stays calm and keeps his pace the entire night, it makes a big difference and it gives you the opportunity to just be comfortable in that ring and as comfortable as you can be in the heat of battle and do what you have to do.
Coyote Duran: How surreal was it to have Joe in your corner in your rematch against Joel Casamayor when Goossen was in Casamayor’s corner in your first match?
Diego Corrales: You know what? That whole situation was a little, uh......a little bit awkward!
Coyote Duran: I'll bet! (Laughs)
Diego Corrales: All in all, once we got to working and doing what we do, me and Joe really hit it off very well and our relationship has gotten very, very strong. It was kind of odd at first but it's worked out great.
Coyote Duran: From an outsider's standpoint, it looks like you two were meant to work with each other. You cats clicked immediately.
Diego Corrales: Y' know, we both have those bubbly personalities. We both like to laugh. We both have our little funny quirks but for the most part, we're both very, very hard workers who come in there with one goal and one thing on our minds. We're both unrelenting in getting it and we both have that light heart to go with it so we both work very well. our personalities were meant to be together.
Coyote Duran: Speaking of support in your corner, I have never seen a man happier than you when the fight is all over and your wife comes into the ring, all smiles.
Diego Corrales: Yeah!
Coyote Duran: Does it help you to have Michelle in attendance and does she have any input on your internal and spiritual preparation for a fight?
Diego Corrales: Yeah, I mean, of course. She's a big part of that and she helps me keep things together and move smoothly. I like that relationship that we have.
Coyote Duran: Without putting you through another unneccessarry reflection of your past, Chico, you’ve come back from some really dark times and have made a lot of us fans really proud of you. Did you imagine your ring “rebirth” would be this successful?
Diego Corrales: Yeah, I believed it would. I always thought it would be successful but it's kind of gone bigger and bigger and bigger so I believed It'd be successful but I didn't know it'd be this successful.
Coyote Duran: Now I'm a huge believer in Karma and that what goes around comes around and to touch briefly on one of your past foes, Floyd Mayweather Jr., do you find it somewhat karmic that he’s going through the same legal issues that he talked trash to you about prior to your fight with him?
Diego Corrales: You know what? I do believe that too. I believe that it was just bad Karma coming back. (Laughs)
Coyote Duran: Amen! (Both laugh)
Diego Corrales: Yeah. You're right. But you know, I'm gonna tell you what, on the personal side of me, I wish nothing more than to see this guy get through that because being on that side and actually going through it and knowing what you feel and knowing what people can say and what people can say and do to you, no matter how much of a smile or what he's feeling or portraying for everyone to see, that's a hard thing to go through and it's a hard feeling......It's really hard to have to live that down and live through that. I wish nothing but the best for him. Hopefully, everything turns out the best for him in that situation.
Coyote Duran: As an observer, do you think Mayweather’s personal problems will get in his way when he fights Arturo Gatti in June?
Diego Corrales: You know, so far, he's done a very good job of juggling that. And it has a lot to do with his raw ability. But there's always that chance that they (Mayweather's legal problems)can, yes.
Coyote Duran: Do you watch a lot of boxing today and who are your favorite fighters to watch if you do have the time in your day?
Diego Corrales: I watch a lot of fights so I just love watching boxing, period. We watch just about everything that comes on. I love to watch Winky (Wright) and Shane (Mosley), (Felix) Trinidad, Antonio Tarver. You've got so many good fighters there! (Marco Antonio) Barrera, (Erik) Morales, (Manny) Pacquiao. I watch just about everybody. I love fights. I love watching great fights.
Coyote Duran: Chico, do you plan on staying at 135 should you prevail against Castillo next month or is 140 pounds looking like a neighborhood you’d like to invade?
Diego Corrales: Because of the challenge I have in front of me with Jose Luis Castillo, I haven't even thought about it. I know that (to make) any decisions in the future in this sport, I have to get past Castillo. I'm giving him his just respects by dedicating all my time and efforts to him.
Coyote Duran: Sounds good. If you could describe your career and the tremendous success you’ve enjoyed in one word, what word would that be?
Diego Corrales: Dream.
Coyote Duran: Dream?
Diego Corrales: The dream. Y' know, I'm just living the dream.
Coyote Duran: Excellent. Excellent. That really says it all. Any words for your many fans, Chico?
Diego Corrales: DON'T....MISS....MAY....7TH!!!!!!! (Both laugh) It's going to be HELL ON WHEELS! Do not miss May 7th!!
Coyote Duran: Man, that's great! (Laughing) Thank you very much on behalf of Talking Boxing.com and all of your fans for the time you've shared with us. I wish you nothing but good luck next month against Jose Luis Castillo.
Diego Corrales: Thank you! Thanks, bro'!
Talking Boxing.com would like to thank the very groovy Diego Corrales for taking the time to engage us in a very cool, open conversation. It's great to see "Chico" back and proving to the world that, in so many ways, he never left. Also huge, huge props to Ed Jackson for arranging such a fantastic press opportunity. Major Coyote thanks, dude!
Coyote Duran can be reached at coyoteduran@talkingboxing.com
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