I still miss Chico

[Brother Naazim]

my brother i agree with you 100% and your statement which was intelligently posted could be summed up by saying it takes more fighters like CHICO to save boxing.

That's true, it would certainly bring a boom in intrest. (Though we are seeing a spike in boxing viewership.)

But if everybody fought like Chico, then we'd never have threads like this to recall how special a particular fighter was.

If Diego was alive now, he'd surely be at the Diaz/Katsidis fight. Most likely cheering on Katsidis.

[VanesBoxing]

I don't agree that boxing needed saving, or has ever needed saving.

But certainly it takes a guy like Chico to really captivate the entire audience. He transcended television, I was instantly drawn to that dude the first time I saw him fight.

We still have great warriors that I absolutely love watching like Katsidis, but Chico had that X factor that made him so accessible. He was a flawed fighter in terms of skill, and a flawed human being (the prison sentence), but there's something very dramatic and human in watching a flawed figure prevail over incredible odds. And who amongst us is without flaws?

That's exactly what he did when he resurrected his career. He never made excuses, and he owned his flaws without exception.

Maybe I read way too deep into it but that's what I felt everytime I watched Diego fight.

Very well said my friend...

RIP Chico.. you will always be missed.

I'm glad to have met him personally when VIC was on his undercard... what a calm and down to earth fellow he was... such a shame he had to go this early.

[The Gully Gad]

Yeh its still a shock to this day..
Even when i watch the dude i still cant believe his gone...

[Brother Naazim]

Very well said my friend...

RIP Chico.. you will always be missed.

I'm glad to have met him personally when VIC was on his undercard... what a calm and down to earth fellow he was... such a shame he had to go this early.

I regret never having met him. Of all the boxers whom I admire (and there are quite a few) Corrales is easily my number 1, because of reasons I mentioned earlier. Everytime I watched him fight I felt it. I've never had that with any other fighter, not even the other guys I admire.

At the risk of sounding gay, when he won, I won, and when he lost, I lost.

[VanesBoxing]

I regret never having met him. Of all the boxers whom I admire (and there are quite a few) Corrales is easily my number 1, because of reasons I mentioned earlier. Everytime I watched him fight I felt it. I've never had that with any other fighter, not even the other guys I admire.

At the risk of sounding gay, when he won, I won, and when he lost, I lost.

nothin gay in that bro...

there are 3 current fighters that I live and die with...

1) Vanes Martirosyan (close friend, like a younger brother to me)
2) Vic Darchinyan (another good friend)
3) Arthur Abraham (great guy, my fellow countryman)

this may be why i get personal with guys at times when arguing or defending these guys.. but hey what can you do you know.

[Brother Naazim]

nothin gay in that bro...

there are 3 current fighters that I live and die with...

1) Vanes Martirosyan (close friend, like a younger brother to me)
2) Vic Darchinyan (another good friend)
3) Arthur Abraham (great guy, my fellow countryman)

this may be why i get personal with guys at times when arguing or defending these guys.. but hey what can you do you know.

I'm from Philly, I defend guys like Joe Frazier, Meldrick Taylor and Bernard Hopkins without fail 100% of the time along with other lesser known Philly fighters. So I understand what it's like backing a personal hometown hero or fellow Countryman. For me, I grew up watching tapes of Joe, I started following Meldrick's career when I was 5, and I've been following 'Nard's since I was 10.

I'm also rabidly loyal to Mexican fighters. I must've been a Mexican in a past life, and now I'm trapped in the body of a tall white dude.

[Motofan]

He came to fight every time out. One of the most exciting fighters I have ever had the pleasure to see fight. He had an amazing punch, a come forward style and a so so chin. You dont get more exciting then that combo! RIP Chico.

[Brother Naazim]

Even my Philly favorites don't have that personal connection with me that Diego did. I mean, when Hopkins loses it's no big deal, the dude is a legend, and he always has options and always makes a good comeback. Frazier had a short career and doesn't get his just due around here IMO, but the guy fought with arthritis and being damn near blind for the majority of his career.

Meldrick Taylor's loss to Chavez made me cry. I was 5, I watched it live and I saw Meldrick whipping his ass the entire fight. No doubt he took his punishment but he did it like a man and got robbed IMO. I've never been able to watch that fight since. That was the only other time I took a win or loss so personal, aside from Chico's fights.

[VanesBoxing]

I'm from Philly, I defend guys like Joe Frazier, Meldrick Taylor and Bernard Hopkins without fail 100% of the time along with other lesser known Philly fighters. So I understand what it's like backing a personal hometown hero or fellow Countryman. For me, I grew up watching tapes of Joe, I started following Meldrick's career when I was 5, and I've been following 'Nard's since I was 10.

I'm also rabidly loyal to Mexican fighters. I must've been a Mexican in a past life, and now I'm trapped in the body of a tall white dude.

i completely get you bro haha...

with us though... i mean imagine only about 7 million worldwide... only 3 million in Armenia itself... a country victim of Genocide and constant invasion and dispair.. our people have grown to really look out for one another when and where they meet on this Earth...

so to have 2 World Champs and such a bright prospect for such a small nation with little history in boxing... i mean this is just a NEW WORLD and hope for us.

Our people need inspiration from our countrymen representing us on the world stage.. and God Bless these men that represent us so well.

[Brother Naazim]

i completely get you bro haha...

with us though... i mean imagine only about 7 million worldwide... only 3 million in Armenia itself... a country victim of Genocide and constant invasion and dispair.. our people have grown to really look out for one another when and where they meet on this Earth...

so to have 2 World Champs and such a bright prospect for such a small nation with little history in boxing... i mean this is just a NEW WORLD and hope for us.

Our people need inspiration from our countrymen representing us on the world stage.. and God Bless these men that represent us so well.

I totally understand, ironically I've donated to Axis of Justice in the past. The fact that so many nations have failed to recognize the Armenian Genocide is saddening.