Diego Corrales; Full Circle
 By Vikram Birring (April 6, 2007) Doghouse Boxing (Photo © Tom Casino/SHOWTIME)
One glance at Diego Corrales, and one immediately notices the battle scars of a man who has fought many wars. Heavily tattooed, bearded, and lean, he is a polarizing figure, one that appears to have visited hell many times over. Through epic bouts with Jose Luis Castillo or to a humiliating defeat to Floyd Mayweather, Corrales has experienced all the highs and lows of boxing, and of life.
In 1999, Corrales was a young super featherweight on the rise, knocking out Roberto Garcia for the IBF championship.
This victory was followed by knockouts against Derrick Gainer, Justin Juuko, and Angel Manfredy. Corrales then met the match of his life, undefeated prodigy Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Mayweather battered Corrales around the ring, knocking the taller man down five times until Corrales’ corner mercifully halted the fight in the tenth round. The humiliation multiplied infinitely after the fight, as Corrales was thrown in jail for 14 months after being indicted for domestic abuse charges against his wife.
Corrales’ life has come full circle. This year, Corrales split with Joe Goossen to stay close to home. Goossen cries foul, as he claims that he is owed $110,000, but Corrales simply saunters on to the next division to conquer the hottest division in the sport at this moment: welterweight. Surrounded by shining stars such as the aforementioned Mayweather and young studs such as Miguel Cotto and Paul Williams, Corrales enters the field as would an aging nomad in the Sahara, looking for a post to set up and yet another chance to make peace with himself.
Unfortunately for Corrales, life is not easy, and there are always obstacles in the way of greater glory. In Corrales’ way will be rugged Joshua Clottey of Accra, Ghana. Corrales’ fights with Jose Luis Castillo were tough, but growing up and making it out of the African continent to form a successful life is a Herculean accomplishment. As Colonel Coetzee said to Danny Archer while wiping the blood-red sand in his hands, “This is Africa.” Corrales will find this to be true, as no matter how many blows he delivers to the Ghanaian, Clottey will not give up, his spirit will be strong, and he will give Corrales the fight of his life.
Corrales is saying all the right things and twinkling with confidence, but his meretricious appearance will be put to the test on the night of April 7. From the Shrine Mosque in Springfield, Missouri, it will most definitely be Showtime.
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