Michael Carbajal
Michael Carbajal ( born September 17, 1967 in Phoenix, Arizona ) is a former American light flyweight boxer.
Amateur
Carbajal won the Golden Gloves, 1987 Second at the Pan American Games and 1988 national champion in the light flyweight in 1986. In the same year he took for the USA at the Olympic Games in Seoul and won the silver medal, he lost in the final against Ivailo Marinov. His record: 94-9.
Professional
The tall charismatic Latino from Arizona was managed and coached by his brother Danny and announced in February 1989, his pro debut against the eventual IBF and WBO title holder Grigsby.
In 1990, he won his first world title (IBF ) against the Thais Muangchai Kittikasem by knockout. Cleverly marketed by his promoter Bob Arum, he received at his Latino supporters a " puncher " image, he could even light flyweight fights as "pay- per-view " shows market.
The image corresponded but only limited to the facts. But even so mediocre opponents like Javier Varguez ( 27-11 ) and Hector Patri ( 42-21 ) he struck a result of subsequent title defenses only on points, so that he was placed in the meantime, in a non-title fights against opponents with a negative balance to times his KO statistics to improve. However, the KO against Robinson Cuesta again showed improved form with scholastic body hook.
In March 1993 it came to a unification bout against the Mexican Humberto "Chiquita " Gonzalez. In a sensational battle Carbajal was twice on the ground, but kept his nerve and hit "Chiquita " difficult KO.
In the same year he defeated in a title defense the Korean Kim Kwang -sun with a spectacular knockout. 1994, it was over with the glory. In the rematch, and also in the decisive battle against González, he was just out boxing, it was the first defeat of his career.
The vacant IBF title he won again in 1996, but lost the belt in 1997 to an unknown Colombian. One last great victory was with the KO against the later years of WBC world champion in the light fly and flyweight Jorge Arce in which it came to the WBO World Championship. It was to be his last fight.
In 2006 he was recorded with Gonzáles into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.