This is no love match: Corrales, Mayweather meet Saturday in super-featherweight bout
by Jim Jenkins
Bee Staff Writer, published Jan. 19, 2001
Their feud is real, each picking away at the other's personal life, but once upon a time Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Sacramento's Diego "Chico" Corrales were cordial to one another. One might even say friendly.
In fact, Saturday night's meeting between the two undefeated super featherweights in Las Vegas won't be the first time they will be in the ring together.
"We sparred as amateurs," Mayweather said during a teleconference call with Corrales and the media.
Who won? Mayweather said he couldn't remember. Corrales said it was a training session of no consequence they had as candidates for the 1996 Olympic team, helping each other out, and there was really no winner or loser.
Unlike now. Because, barring a draw, which no one expects, there will definitely be a winner and a loser Saturday night when the two unbeaten 130-pounders face each other again.
At stake at the 16,000-seat MGM Grand arena is Mayweather's World Boxing Council title. Until recently, the scheduled 12-rounder was to be a championship unification fight, but Corrales' International Boxing Federation title was vacated so he could move up to lightweight. He says the abdication was done without his permission, and he is in the process of dumping his managers.
No matter.
The rewards beyond winning the WBC crown could be staggering. According to Bob Arum, who promotes both fighters, the victor will not only get bragging rights for prevailing in a feud match but also a guaranteed six-fight contract with HBO, the cable network telecasting Saturday's card. It will mean more of the $1.3 million-type purses Mayweather (24-0, 18 knockouts) and Corrales (33-0, 27 knockouts) are said to be getting for this bout.
The loser, says Arum, will receive at least one more appearance on HBO, which has featured each fighter several times and seen them rise to the point of being regarded among the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world.
In interview after interview leading up to today's weigh-in, Mayweather, a slight favorite from Grand Rapids, Mich., predicts that Corrales will be excluded from the exalted status come Saturday.
"Even though I'm the champion, I asked for this fight," Mayweather said. "You don't see too many fighters taking risks like that. Like I said, to be the best, I'm going to fight the best fighters out there."
Mayweather is training under the direction of his uncle, Roger Mayweather, a former welterweight contender. His father, also an ex-fighter, used to be his chief cornerman, but the two had an ugly falling out.
Floyd Sr. says his dismissal is a mistake and believes the uncle is courting danger by telling Mayweather to stress offense over defense, calling the strategy "crazy. Like my son is Joe Frazier or Rocky Marciano … he goes in there and trades with Corrales, he may not win."
Corrales hasn't fought since an IBF title defense in September when he knocked out Angel Manfredy in three rounds, but Mayweather, under his uncle's tutoring, took what many boxing people thought was an ill-advised tuneup in October against a heavier Emmanuel Burton. Mayweather won by a ninth-round technical knockout but couldn't floor his opponent.
"It was a junior lightweight fighting against a junior welterweight, and I stopped him," said Mayweather, perhaps thinking ahead to the 6-foot Corrales' size advantage. "I showed that I could take a 140-pound shot. I got hit a little more than I expected, but the main thing is I won."
Corrales says he will administer a far worse beating, drawing a retort from his former teammate and current adversary.
"When Diego and me are together, he doesn't say anything," Mayweather said. "He knows who the real champion is."
P.S. Sorry, Jorj - no idea where the Tszyu-Mitch fight will be held. |
