Apologetic Corrales ponders boxing future

Monday, Oct. 9, 2006 | 7:32 a.m.

Appearing resigned and contrite after relinquishing his world lightweight championship, Diego Corrales vowed to take his punishment without complaint for failing to make weight for Saturday night's title fight against Joel Casamayor.

"With the weight fiasco, sometimes you look back at your glory days and you think you can actually do something that your body really can't," Corrales said after losing a split decision to Casamayor at the Mandalay Bay Events Center. "I made that mistake. ... I sincerely am sorry. I truly say (that) I humbly apologize."

Corrales had lost his WBC belt even before Casamayor beat him in the ring by weighing in officially at 139 1/2 pounds Friday, 4 1/2 pounds above the lightweight limit.

In reviewing the situation, which he called a "disgrace to boxing," Corrales appealed to fans of the sport who might be inclined to welcome back his former rival Jose Luis Castillo, who failed twice to make weight for fights against Corrales. On the first occasion, marred by an attempt to tamper with the scale by a member of Castillo's camp, Corrales lost by fourth-round knockout. The second time, this past June, Corrales refused to fight.

Castillo was fined and suspended for the remainder of the year for his actions.

"I want to say that if people can sit back and forgive Castillo for cheating (on) the scale and coming back and still not making weight the second time, they can forgive me the one time I didn't make the weight," Corrales said.

Corrales said last week he would consider after the bout whether to remain at lightweight or move up in weight class and seek big fights against heavier opponents. Afterward, Corrales said he's now more inclined to ponder his very future in the sport.

"It's been a chaotic week, to say the least," he said. "The whole thing with me not making weight is another black eye (for boxing); it's something that I never wanted to give to the sport. However, I did do that, so whatever comes with that, I will accept.

"I'm gonna go home, take some time with my family and make a decision on what I'm doing (next)."

Corrales (40-4) looked older than his 29 years Saturday, as 35-year-old Casamayor (34-3-1) used his speed and movement to prevent his taller opponent from putting together any sustained rallies. Although he said he felt fine physically and mentally after his ordeal with the weigh-in, Corrales was missing the aggressive spark and flair he has displayed in previous fights - including two previous meetings with Casamayor, which the men split.

"I went out there and executed my plan, like we had worked on in the gym," Corrales said. "I boxed well, boxed smart, took my time, and then as the fight went on I started to press. I executed (my) plan to a point."

But Casamayor matched Corrales shot-for-shot or better in most rounds, landing a number of sharp, clean blows from the outside. He won 116-111 and 115-112 on two judges' cards while the third had it 114-113 for Corrales. The Sun's scorecard favored Casamayor, 116-111.

"I won clearly," said Casamayor, who later invited Corrales to sit ringside to watch his next fight as a friend and supporter. "I was glad the judges did the right thing. I was concerned it went to a decision, but I knew they wouldn't take it away. ...

"I was disappointed about the weight issue, but I wasn't going to let my fans down."

Casamayor was awarded half of the $240,000 fine Corrales had to pay for not making weight, along with an undisclosed portion of Corrales' $1.2 million purse.

Promoter Gary Shaw seemed sympathetic to Corrales' plight.

"If you speak to fighters, they'll tell you, young fighters, that they can go to sleep and wake up two pounds lighter," Shaw said. "I think that Diego's body just shut down on him. But Diego never quit. He went and did everything humanly possible to lose those additional pounds. ...

"Nobody should believe that Diego Corrales is not a great champion, a credit to the sport, a guy who fights his heart out every time he gets in the ring."