-Photo Credit: Tom Casino/Showtime-

     Saturday night will see the return of one of boxing's most exciting fighters when Diego Corrales steps back into the ring on Showtime. It will be Corrales' first fight since his much maligned loss to Joel Casamayor in October. You may remember that the fight was marred by Corrales' failing to make weight, and then losing the fight. Weight issues have made Corrales'  career over the past 2 years very turbulent. First he had the issues with Jose Luis Castillo, and then his own. So, the logical thing was to move up in weight. But, what you may not know is just how much Corrales is moving up in weight. He's moving up to classes to welterweight, that's 12 pounds, and a very huge jump. He's not fighting a cupcake either, in his first fight at 147, he's fighting the very tough Josh Clottey. Corrales just may be stepping into shark infested waters.

     Corrales will be a changed fighter in more ways than just his weight on Saturday night. He will have a new trainer and promoter in his corner. Gone is Joe Goossen and in is Richie Dixon. Gone is Gary Shaw and in is Golden Boy Promotions. He is also training exclusively in Las Vegas now. Corrales' ultimate goal, and a big reason for moving up to 147 is to get a rematch with Floyd Mayweather Jr. That's his goal and it's a lofty goal. There are a lot of potential good fights for Chico at 147, I just don't know if Mayweather is one of them.

     The first thought that went through my head when I saw who Chico would fight in his first fight at 147 was, couldn't he have picked an easier first fight? Josh Clottey is a tough and strong fighter. This may be the first time that Corrales is going into a fight as the less stronger fighter. Chico will have to rely more on his technical skills, because Clottey can be a bull. Remember Clottey's last fight, he gave Antonio Margarito all he wanted and then some, in losing a very close decision. Even the hard punching Margarito, who has trouble making 147 could not hurt Clottey. Clottey's only other loss of his career was a DQ loss to Carlos Baldomir. Clottey is not the guy that you want to move up 12 pounds and fight. He's also not a showcase guy, he's not a guy that Corrales will likely look good against. Again, just ask Margarito, Clottey's a tough, strong guy with a granite chin.

     Chico would like to have a good showing since he's in a whole new weight class and hoping to attract new suitors for a potential big money fight. Clottey is not the guy to accomplish this against. I don't mean to say that Corrales can't win the fight, but it will be hard for him to look impressive, which is exactly what he needs to do, moving up in weight and coming off a loss. I was surprised enough to see Corrales' moving up 2 weight classes, but even more surprised to see who he would be fighting first at this weight class. Even his old weight struggling buddy Jose Luis Castillo only moved up one weight class.

     The biggest question that Corrales will have to answer on Saturday is whether he's a shot fighter. It's hard not to ask this question, considering the battles that Corrales has been in over the past few years, as well as the battles with the scales, making weight.  Hopefully, Corrales' is not shot, because he's an exciting, hard working fighter who loves his craft and that can be hard to find these days. Whether Chico is jumping into shark infested waters on Saturday night will soon be answered as he will make his anticipated return in Springfield, Missouri on Saturday night.

4-4-2007