Cage Door Still Open For 3-Time Chicago Golden Gloves Champ

Erick Correa, who trains at Team Curran MMA in Crystal Lake, will be tackling the 0-2 Lance Harvey in Correa's first cage match Nov. 17 at the Sears Centre Arena in Hoffman Estates.

“It’s been such a long time coming,” said Correa, a three-time Chicago Golden Glove Champion who had bicep surgery that delayed the start of his professional fighting career.

Correa said he ruptured the distal bicep tendon in his right arm in February, which was followed by a deep-tissue infection in his leg in September.  

In October he buckled down for a hard month of training.

Injury is no stranger to this fighter. He ruptured his bicep in his left arm training for the Golden Gloves National Tournament in 2009.

Deeply religious, Correa said this year he and his wife and daughter have weathered life's problems as if making their way through a storm and they are seeing daylight.

Correa said, before his match starts, on his way to the cage, there will be a song playing called “Endure,” with the lyrics: “ … I can’t give up right now, even if I fall I get up right now … ”

In a year Correa hopes to be fighting under contract of one of the big MMA organizations and in five years hopes to be contending for a title or holding a title of one of the big organizations.

“Lord willing,” he said.

XFO 46

Saturday, November 17th, 2012 at 5:30 pm

» Ticket Prices: $65, $55, $45, $35, $25

» Doors Open: 5 PM