Michael Carbajal: One Bad to Bad Bone Champion Remembered

By Anthony “Stacks” Saldaña

As I look back on my life, I realize how truly lucky I was growing up in the 80’s and 90’s. Running around the neighborhood emulating fighters such as “Sugar” Ray Leonard, “Iron” Mike Tyson, Roberto Duran, Julio Cesar Chavez and “Marvelous” Marvin Hagler to name a few. Little did I know I was witnessing the last true “Golden Era” of Boxing.

This article will focus on a boxer who gained fame during the 1988 summer Olympics in Seoul South Korea. Michael “Manitas De Piedra” (Little Hands of Stone) Carbajal, 49-4, 33 KO’s. a fighter who adopted his nickname from his favorite fighter Roberto Duran.

Michael was born September 17th 1967, and raised in Phoenix, Arizona. Michael who was trained by his older brother Danny had a great amateur background and in 1988 competed in the Seoul Summer Olympics in South Korea. Carbajal cruised through his initial bouts. Then in the Jr. Flyweight final, Michael dominated his opponent, only to be denied a Gold medal by the judges. The decision, along with Roy Jones, JR.’s decision loss, in his final bout in Seoul was considered one of amateur boxing’s most unpopular and controversial decisions ever rendered.

On February 24th 1989 Carbajal made his professional debut in Atlantic City. Carbajal’s fight was part of the Roberto Duran vs. Iran Barkley undercard. Michael outboxed, knocked down and won a 4 round unanimous decision over future flyweight champion Will Grisby. Carbajal went on to win his next 6 fights via KO, all coming within the first four rounds of his fights.

On February 18th 1990 12 fights into his career, Carabajal took on Tony DeLuca who for the NABF Light Flyweight title. Carbajal easily won a unanimous decision and became a title holder just one year into his professional career.

On July 29th 1990, Bob Arum and Top Rank Showcased Michael on NBC. Carbajal fought in front of his home crowd in Phoenix as he took on Maungshai Kittikasem. Kittikasem who came to Phoenix from South Korea to defend his IBF World Jr. Flyweight championship was stopped in round 7, after a an onslaught of combinations that left Kittikasem lying defenseless against the ropes, the referee stepped in and stopped the fight, making Carbajal a recognized sanctioning body world champion for the first time in his career.

After the fight with Kittikasem, Carbajal defended the IBF Title 12 times and Michael was becoming a superstar in the sport. Many fight fans fight in the Mexican community began calling out for Carbajal to fight the WBC world champion Humberto “Chiquita” Gonzalez. Eventually the
‘Clash Course” fight took place March 13, 1993 in the parking lot of the Las Vegas Hilton. Carbajal became the first Jr. Flyweight in history to earn a million dollars for a fight, and the fight had so much hype that it resembled a heavyweight championship bout and had both Jimmy Lennon, JR. and Michael Buffer announcing the fighters in the ring. It was the first Jr. Flyweight championship bout in history to headline a PPV event.

Carbajal who was in an all out war with Chiquita was downed in rounds 2 and 5, and he was bleeding from his right eyebrow. Gonzalez who is a Southpaw started the fight in an orthodox stance and completely had Carbajal fooled until the 7th round. Michael blasted a tremendous combination onto the face of Gonzalez, Chiquita fell into the ropes. Then Carbajal hit Gonzalez with a right hand to the side of Chiquita’s chin. Gonzalez turned sideways, and another right hand sent him flat to the canvas. He could not beat the count. Michael Carbajal had unified the World Jr. Flyweight championship in Ring Magazine’s “Fight of the Year.

After that fight my family members, as well as several Mexican fans who did not see Carbajal as a ”True Mexican” boxer became fans. Carbajal and Gonzalez fought two more times in Michael’s career with Chiquita beating Michael both times, once by split decision and once by majority decision. Michael Carbajal went on to be a five time world champion winning his last title in 1999.

In what would be Carbajal’s last fight Michael traveled to Tijuana to challenge WBO world Jr. Flyweight champion Jorge Arce in his hometown. Arce dominated Carbajal for 9 of the first 10 rounds, but the still dangerous Carbajal floored the 20-year-old champion Arce in the eighth round. Arce recovered, but Carbajal would again strike in the 11th round. Carbajal struck Jorge with a devastating right that sent Arce into the ropes. Michael continued to attack Arce until the referee stopped the fight, and Michael Carbajal was a world champion for the fifth time.

After the Arce Fight Michael “Little Hands of Stones” Carbajal retired. Then in 2006 along with Humberto “Chiquita” Gonzalez was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame. Michael’s life took a turn in 2007 when a lawsuit was filed on behalf of Michael Carbajal against his brother Danny who over the course of many years left Michael without any assets. Danny was later convicted and sentenced to prison. Danny Carbajal is serving a 54-month sentence for fraud and felony-theft on charges of stealing an estimated $2 million from Michael.

[si-contact-form form=’2′]