PRESS RELEASE: Three-time world champion Diego “Chico’’ Corrales (40-4, 33 KOs) will move up two weight classes when he returns to Showtime Championship Boxing on Saturday, April 7, 2007, to take on world-ranked challenger Joshua Clottey (30-2, 1 NC, 20 KOs).
Showtime will televise the 10-round welterweight bout at 9 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the west coast). Gary Shaw Productions and Tony Holden Promotions will promote an event sponsored by the Buffalo Run Casino in Miami, Oklahoma, from The Shrine Mosque in Springfield, Missouri.
DIEGO CORRALES:
“The way I am feeling inside, this is like a world title fight and almost like my pro debut, all rolled into one. But I feel in great shape and I am ready to go. I am really looking forward to Saturday and fighting on Showtime again.
“I could have fought a lesser opponent but, really, I never considered fighting anybody but a top fighter at this weight. I wanted a real test. A tune-up would have done me no good. I probably would not have been able to get up for a tune-up fight.
“For this fight, I am highly motivated, which is the way it should be and the way I like it.
“One big difference I noticed in sparring at this weight is that the punches come at you a little slower and are a little easier to see.
“One big advantage I have is that I feel my punch output will be the same – about 150 a round. At the higher weights, they throw about 100 punches a round.
“Clottey is very dangerous but I am very, very confident and ready to roll. I feel much better at 147. Knowing I only have to deal with one fight (his opponent) and not two (his opponent and his weight) is a big deal for me not only physically, but mentally.
JOSHUA CLOTTEY:
“I want to thank Showtime and everyone involved for making this fight against Corrales happen. This is like a world title fight. To beat a “name” like Corrales would obviously be very good for me and put me in a place better than I was before the (Antonio) Margarito fight.
“I am coming to fight my fight, like I always do. I always want to make a great fight for the fans. It is important to get the respect from the fans in the United States.
“Corrales is a great champion and I have a lot of respect for him. But in the ring, it is different. I will win, I can promise you that.
“I am not putting any pressure on myself for a knockout. In fact, I have put that (a KO) out of my mind. I want to be able to feel free and just fight my fight.
“If Corrales is strong enough to handle my power, then he made a good move by coming to welterweight. But if he can’t take my punch then it means his strength isn’t what it was at the lesser weights.
“I have been knocked down once in my career. It came in my pro debut when my opponent weighed about 15 pounds more than me.
“I will never go down again.’’
