The purpose of this text is straightforward: to pay homage to a very nice struggle. So simple as that. Nothing extra. And nothing much less.
Let’s overlook that Jose Luis Castillo and Diego Corrales ever fought once more, or that Corrales died on this present day in 2007 after deciding to get on his bike whereas drunk. Let’s overlook all the things that adopted this superb donnybrook that’s, arguably, the best motion struggle of the twenty first century. Hell, let’s not even dwell on how the struggle was determined partially by Corrales shopping for himself additional time to get better by spitting out his mouthpiece. Proper now, let’s ignore the negatives and as a substitute simply bear in mind twenty-nine minutes and 6 seconds of fantastic pleasure, the sort solely boxing can create.
On the time, most eager observers of the struggle enterprise anticipated one thing particular. This was, in any case, a battle between proud champions. Castillo held the WBC light-weight title; Corrales owned the WBO strap. Each warriors have been of their bodily primes and each have been driving waves of momentum after vital wins. Castillo, who many thought deserved to be credited with a factors victory over Floyd Mayweather Jr. in 2002, had rebounded from the next rematch defeat to submit six straight wins. In the meantime, Diego “Chico” Corrales, who additionally had a loss to “Fairly Boy” on his file, was coming off a revenge choice victory over Joel Casamayor which was adopted by an enormous stoppage win over Acelino Freitas that earned him his third world title.
From the opening spherical to the spellbinding end, this was gorgeously violent stuff. Most anticipated the taller and longer Diego would exploit his attain benefit by being busy together with his jab and straight proper, however early on it was evident that distance and tactical boxing wouldn’t be the dominant themes. As a substitute it was all about energy, bravery and continuous motion at shut quarters. The opener noticed Castillo seeking to rating with heavy artillery to Diego’s physique whereas Corrales aimed upstairs, the spherical ending with a brutal alternate of energy pictures at ring heart. However spherical two solely upped the depth, the back-and-forth blitzes coming quick and livid. This was Diego’s spherical as he shocked Castillo with some scorching mixtures, forcing the Mexican to provide floor.
Spherical three noticed each land their share of damaging clouts, the spectacle of unbridled toe-to-toe warfare drawing cries and moans from the gang as first one after which the opposite landed heavy pictures to each physique and head. The busier Corrales appeared to have the sting however the finish of the spherical noticed Castillo stun his man with a collection of highly effective blows. As if in response, Corrales leapt out for the beginning of spherical 4 firing hooks with abandon; a minute later he buckled Jose’s legs with a left. However Castillo responded by ripping each fists to Diego’s physique and scoring the larger variety of clear punches for the rest of the spherical which was, for probably the most half, one other extended four-fisted alternate in the midst of the ring.
And so it went. Castillo now had a severe lower over his left eye however the wound did nothing to discourage the Mexican’s offensive output. However a livid spherical 5 belonged to Diego and Castillo’s nook urged him to select up the tempo in spherical six, which he did. The center rounds have been marked by each males struggling to realize the higher hand, the momentum shifting back-and-forth. Spherical six belonged to the Mexican as he staggered Diego on the finish of it with uppercuts and proper arms, however Corrales rebounded in an amazingly intense spherical seven as he harm the tough-as-nails Castillo with a proper on the bell.
But when Corrales edged that spherical, the momentum appeared, by a slim margin, to be with the sturdier Castillo as rounds eight and 9 noticed the Mexican out-work his opponent (and in addition land some exhausting pictures south of the border), each rounds not ending earlier than Castillo had buckled the legs of his tiring quarry. In a portent of issues to come back, Jose’s onslaught close to the tip of spherical eight dislodged Diego’s mouthpiece and the wrestle was briefly paused so it could possibly be reinserted. With a minute left within the ninth, Castillo was rocked by a proper, however he rebounded to harm Corrales together with his personal proper after which rating a ravishing uppercut-right hand mixture. On the bell each males landed thunderous blows, Castillo the left hook, Diego the proper hand.
When the fighters left their corners for spherical ten, the match was clearly nonetheless up for grabs and each bore the injuries of struggle. The left eye of Corrales was nearly swollen shut, whereas Castillo’s lower was nonetheless a priority. However very quickly none of that might matter. Everyone knows what occurs subsequent. A very vicious left hook from Castillo simply twenty seconds in scores the primary knockdown and out comes the mouthpiece. Time known as; the mouthpiece is restored. Two extra left hooks and down goes “Chico” and out comes the mouthpiece once more. Time known as; the mouthpiece goes again in; a degree is deducted; Joe Goossen makes his well-known pronouncement. After which it occurs.
Seemingly a wounded and fading fighter, it’s Corrales who hurts Castillo with a proper hand and forces him to retreat. Then an enormous left hook lands. Out of the blue it’s Castillo whose again is to the ropes. After which a collection of fresh punches leaves the Mexican helpless. Referee Tony Weeks has no selection; the match is stopped. And that, women and gentleman, is how legends, and legendary fights, are made. Neither man would ever be the identical. And Diego Corrales is now not with us. However this nice battle will stay ceaselessly.
— Neil Crane
