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In 2001, Diego Corrales was knocked down five times by Floyd Mayweather and stopped in 10 rounds when his corner threw in the towel. Most experts thought Corrales' days as a top contender were over for good, that Corrales was exposed. The experts have never been so wrong. Due to personal issues outside of the ring, Corrales would not enter the ring again until 2003. Corrales went on to fight 5 times in 2003. He knocked out four of the opponents and was stopped in 6 rounds by Joel Casamayor when the ring doctor felt a cut in Diego's mouth was too severe to let the fight go on any further. The fight was exciting and saw both fighters hitting the deck in the fourth round, a rematch was demanded.
In 2004, it was a banner year for Corrales. He avenged his loss to Joel Casamayor by winning a 12 round unanimous decision and picked up the WBO super featherweight title. He then moved up to 135 pounds and upset the undefeated Acelino Freitas to win the WBO lightweight title. Corrales' win over Freitas shocked the boxing world. After winning the boxing match for the first seven rounds by out-hustling his opponent, Freitas would see the beginning of the end, start in the eight round. Freitas was dropped once in the eight, once in the ninth and after the third knockdown in the tenth, Freitas shockingly quit the fight by telling the referee Michael Ortega that he did not want to continue. [details]
In 2004, it was a banner year for Corrales. He avenged his loss to Joel Casamayor by winning a 12 round unanimous decision and picked up the WBO super featherweight title. He then moved up to 135 pounds and upset the undefeated Acelino Freitas to win the WBO lightweight title. Corrales' win over Freitas shocked the boxing world. After winning the boxing match for the first seven rounds by out-hustling his opponent, Freitas would see the beginning of the end, start in the eight round. Freitas was dropped once in the eight, once in the ninth and after the third knockdown in the tenth, Freitas shockingly quit the fight by telling the referee Michael Ortega that he did not want to continue. [details]