CANASTOTA, NY – JUNE 7, 2005 – The International Boxing Hall of Fame announced today WBC / WBO lightweight champion Diego “Chico” Corrales will attend festivities planned for the 16th Annual Hall of Fame Induction Weekend set for June 9-12th. On May 7th, Corrales unified the lightweight titles when he stopped WBC champion Jose Luis Castillo in 10 rounds in a bout of epic proportions..
After nine brutal rounds of back and forth action, Castillo stunned Corrales with two knockdowns at the start of the 10th. However, “Chico” survived and dramatically halted Castillo with 54 seconds remaining in the same round. The bout is being heralded by boxing fans and writers as the “Fight of the Decade.”
“Corrales displayed the fighting heart of a champion and a warrior,” said Hall of Fame director Edward Brophy. “The Hall of Fame is extremely excited about welcoming him to Canastota for the first time.”
A two-division world champion, Corrales turned pro in 1996. He has won the IBF and WBO super featherweight titles, and the WBO and WBC lightweight titles. During his championship career, “Chico” has scored wins over Roberto Garcia, Derrick Gainer, Angel Manfredy, Joel Casamayor and Acelino Freitas. His pro ledger reads 40-2 with 33KOs.
“It will be a real honor to go to the Boxing Hall of Fame and be there with the legends of the game. It’s my dream to become a legend and now I get to be in Canastota with them,” said Corrales.
The June 9-12th Hall of Fame Induction Weekend will feature over 20 exciting events including a banquet, parade, golf tournament, boxing autograph card show, breakfast, cocktail party, professional boxing show, and the official induction ceremony honoring the Class of 2005. New inductees to be honored are featherweight champion Bobby Chacon, junior welterweight champion Duilio Loi, featherweight champion Barry McGuigan, junior middleweight champion Terry Norris, matchmaker Don Fraser and writer Bert Sugar. Posthumous inductees will also be honored.
Over 50 boxing stars, including Marvelous Marvin Hagler, Ken Norton, Emile Griffith, Aaron Pryor, Leon Spinks, Alexis Arguello, Michael Carbajal, Angelo Dundee, Alan Minter, and Canastota’s Carmen Basilio and Billy Backus are scheduled to participate in weekend festivities.
For more information on the Hall of Fame’s 16th Annual Induction Weekend please call (315) 697-7095 or visit www.ibhof.com