By KEITH GRANT
He was such a good guy, said Lorraine Casella, his longtime companion from Island Park. He had such a big heart. He was always doing for other people. He gave of himself and never looked for anything in return.
Corbitt lost a year-long battle with illness in June. His death was of natural causes, but doctors suspected he had suffered from ALS. Corbitt was 69.
His doctors said they never saw a fighter like him, according to Casella. At one point Corbitt was given just 48 hours to live, but after several days of hanging on the doctors said, this man is some fighter!
And a fighter he was. A Brooklyn native, Corbitt was the kind of fighter who said you were hoit, not hurt. After a stint in the Army, Corbitt began a pro boxing career in 1956 and compiled a 6-2-1 record before becoming frustrated with the fights he was getting and hanging up his gloves. But he didn't walk away before winning his lone Madison Square Garden bout.
Then began a four-decade career as a prolific trainer. In 1981, he helped start up the Long Beach Boxing Club. For four years, local kids and young adults trained in the West End club that produced two Golden Gloves champions.
Though the club folded 17 years ago, Corbitt still managed to produce another champion just this year. Long Beach's Kevin Boswell, 19, claimed the Golden Gloves title just two years after being discovered by Corbitt. Though he hadn't actually worked with his ailing trainer for most of the past year, Boswell dedicated his win to Corbitt.
But that was likely because Corbitt's influence extended far beyond the boxing ring.
He knew of a woman who was hungry once, said George Pesce, a Long Beach resident and former boxer of Corbitt's. When there was no one around, George went and bought her groceries and brought them to her house. I'll never forget that.
Corbitt had been very active in St. Mary's R.C. Church, serving as a head usher and running the breakfast club.
He was just always so thoughtful, Casella said. He didn't look like he had that warmth about him, but he had it. He was so unassuming, but all he wanted to do was help people.
He's got a legacy that will be lasting because of the way he was, she said. He was this boxing guardian angel.
