I hate to return to The Green Room under sad circumstances but the memories I have of Chico are anything but sad, and if I can get the I’s dotted and the T’s crossed while wiping my eyes, I’d like to share my memories of Chico.

 

Meeting Diego Corrales for the first time in January 2005 at the "A Ring of Their Own" debut fight in Las Vegas was definitely memorable. His firm handshake let you know those hands meant business in the ring and the big smile he greeted everybody with put you on notice that he enjoyed life to fullest outside the ropes. The other occasions where I met Chico again were with this site’s fearless leader, Butch and his boss Mary Ann, at the Corrales/Castillo II press conference and at his open workout at Caesar’s Palace. Members of my husband’s family observed the workout- we were in Las Vegas for a family reunion and Chico gladly signed shirts, shook hands and posed for photos. Even surrounded by press, promoters and the general hoopla of the boxing industry, Chico had the time and the words for people he felt mattered- his fans.

 

Other words Chico had were for some of my close friends, the Figueroa’s, whose son, Joaquin, was on the amateur boxing team at our gym, Lawton Boxing Center. Joaquin’s sister Jessica suffers from a rare heart condition and the gym had a fundraiser to help raise surgery funds. To Joaquin’s surprise, he received a phone call from Chico, encouraging him not to give up and keep fighting for his sister. The Figueroa family’s story with Chico doesn’t end there. Upon graduating from Lawton High School in May 2006, Joaquin entered the Navy and as a graduation gift, his mother Celenia planned a family trip to Vegas, complete with tickets to Corrales/Castillo III. Throughout the trip’s planning, Butch and Mary Ann were in on a surprise meeting for Joaquin. In typical motherly fashion, Celenia hurried her family through McCarran Airport upon their arrival, and immediately to Chico’s press conference. A stunned Joaquin had a smile on his face as big as his Chico’s when Butch turned him around to meet his hero face to face, and performed the introductions between the amateur fighter and his favorite champion. The photos and memories of that day were very much on Joaquin’s mind at his station in Goose Creek, South Carolina, when he received the news of Chico’s death.

 

I didn’t have nearly as many years of covering Chico as a lot of boxing press but I was always excited to talk to him and enjoyed how genuine he was in his comments, and truly appreciated the time he made for any and all media. My last dealing with Chico column- wise was for thesweetscience.com; the subject was fighter’s pre-fight rituals. I knew I could expect something unique from Chico, and he did not disappoint. Of his pre-fight ritual, Chico shared this revealing bit of himself:

 

More than likely all of Chico’s opponents prayed before doing battle with him. Prayed they would have a fraction of the heart or the guts he possessed. Win or lose, Chico gave his fight, his fans, and the boxing industry his all. Everything he gave will always be appreciated and remembered with love and respect from those who knew him as a fighter and a friend.