Diego leaves behind a wife and six children, one of who was born this past June.
The boxing tribute is the brainchild of Jimmy Lange, local boxer from Great Falls, VA. Jimmy was one of the boxers on the popular boxing show ‘The Contender’ that features former welterweight boxer Sugar Ray Leonard, and actor Sylvester “Rocky” Stallone.
In a quote from the Lange website Jimmy states, “Chico
was one of the few modern boxers who, win or lose, always left everything out there at the end of the day. He had a
tremendous heart and was a great crowd-pleaser who gave one-hundred percent every time in the ring.”
The boxing tribute featured a six-round junior middleweight contest between D.C.’s own Luther “Sugarman”
Smith and Jesse Williams of Youngstown, Ohio.
Smith lost his bout to Williams one minute and eighteen seconds into the fifth round via technical knockout, bringing his
record to 4-4, with two knockouts.
Other bouts featured Charlottesville, Virginia’s George “War Time” Rivera who defeated opponent John
"JT" Terry of Portsmouth, VA in a four-round unanimous decision.
Rivera told DC Urban Sports of his win, “It was a great win, and I’ll get better as time goes on.”
Additional bouts featured Jr. welterweight Bayanmunkh Bayanjargal of Arlington, VA, and Richmond, Virginia’s
Edward Anderson. Bayanjargal won in a four round unanimous decision leaving him
undefeated (3-0-1).
Takoma Park, Maryland’s Willis Locket defeated opponent Calvin Riley of Gaithersburg, MD one minute and five
seconds into the third round, marking Locket’s third win, bringing his record to an impressive 10-4-4 over Riley’s
1-2.
Another highlight of the evening was Jackie “The First Lady of Boxing” Kallen. Kallen, a boxing promoter who has been in the boxing scene for more than twenty years was the inspiration behind the movie “Against the Ropes" that featured actress Meg Ryan.
Kallen was on hand to lend her support to the Corrales tribute.
When asked about the tribute's main event, Williams vs. Smith, Kallen said, “It was an exciting fight. It had a rocky start, but it was a good fight.”
Kallen is also the author of “Hit Me With Your Best Shot’, a book that she described as “a self-help
book”. The book is now in its second printing.
Partial proceeds from the benefit will go to the Corrales family.
Related
Diego Corrales’ Amazing Comeback Fight (You Tube)
D.C.’s Own Female Boxing Promoter
View Sugar Ray Leonard Boxing
