Michael Carbajal

Michael Carbajal is an American boxer who rose to prominence in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Born in Phoenix, Arizona, Carbajal began his professional boxing career in 1989, quickly establishing himself as a force to be reckoned with in the light flyweight division. Over the course of his career, Carbajal would become a five-time world champion, earning a reputation as one of the most skilled and tenacious fighters of his generation.

Carbajal's career spanned more than a decade, from 1989 to 1999. In that time, he amassed a record of 49 wins and just four losses, with 33 of his victories coming by way of knockout. He never suffered a single draw or no-contest during his long and illustrious career.

Throughout his career, Carbajal was known for his aggressive style and exceptional punching power. He earned the nickname "Manitas de Piedra" (Little Hands of Stone) after his favorite boxer, "Hands of Stone" Roberto Durán, due to his ability to knock out opponents with a single punch. Despite his diminutive size – Carbajal stands just 5 feet, 5.5 inches tall – he was a force to be reckoned with in the ring.

One of the defining moments of Carbajal's career came in July 1990, when he won his first world title by defeating Muangchai Kittikasem via seventh-round TKO. The victory made him the IBF light-flyweight world champion, and he would go on to successfully defend his title six times over the next two and a half years.

Carbajal's most famous fight came in March 1993 when he faced off against WBC champion Humberto González in a highly anticipated unification match. The fight was billed as the first ever Junior Flyweight "superfight" and championship bout to headline a Pay Per View event, and it lived up to the hype. Although Carbajal was knocked down twice in the early rounds and was bleeding from his right eyebrow, he rallied in the seventh round to land a tremendous left hand to the side of Gonzalez's chin. Gonzalez turned sideways, and Carbajal landed another right hand that sent him to the canvas. Gonzalez could not beat the count, and Michael Carbajal had unified the world's Junior Flyweight championship in The Ring's fight of the year, cementing his status as one of the best fighters of his generation.

Over the course of his career, Carbajal would earn a number of other notable victories, including wins over Hall-of-Famer Humberto Gonzalez, Domingo Sosa, Kim Kwang-sun, Tomas Rivera, Jorge Arce, Macario Santos, and Leon Salazar. He also held titles in two weight classes – light flyweight and flyweight – and defended his titles on 11 separate occasions.

Carbajal was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2006, cementing his legacy as one of the greatest boxers of all time. Today, he is remembered not only for his numerous victories and world titles, but also for his tenacity, skill, and unwavering dedication to his craft.

Michael Carbajal Fight Record