Michael Carbajal facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Michael Carbajal
Carbajal in 2023
Statistics
Nickname(s)	Manitas de Piedra (Little Hands of Stone)
Rated at	Light Flyweight
Height	5 ft 5.5 in (1.66 m)
Reach	63 in (160 cm)
Born	(1967-09-17) September 17, 1967 (age 57) Phoenix, U.S.
Stance	Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights	53
Wins	49
Wins by KO	33
Losses	4
Medal record Men's boxing Representing the  United States Olympic Games Silver 1988 Seoul Light flyweight Pan American Games Silver 1987 Indianapolis Light Flyweight

Michael Carbajal, born on September 17, 1967, is an American boxer. He became a world champion five times! His family comes from Mexico. People called him "Little Hands of Stone." This was a tribute to his favorite boxer, Roberto Durán, who was known as "Hands of Stone."

Michael Carbajal's Amateur Boxing Career

Michael Carbajal had a great start in boxing. As an amateur, he won 94 fights and only lost 9. He earned a silver medal at the 1988 Seoul Olympics in South Korea. He competed in the light flyweight division.

Amateur Highlights and Achievements

Carbajal achieved several important wins before turning professional:

• In 1986, he became the National Golden Gloves Light Flyweight champion.
• In 1987, he won a silver medal at the Pan American Games.
• In 1988, he was the United States amateur Light Flyweight champion.

1988 Olympic Journey and Results

Here are Michael Carbajal's results from the 1988 Seoul Olympics:

• Round of 32: He beat Kwang-Soo Oh from South Korea (3:2 decision).
• Round of 16: He defeated Dang Hieu Hien from Vietnam on points.
• Quarterfinal: He won against Scotty Olson from Canada on points.
• Semifinal: He beat Robert Isaszegi from Hungary on points.
• Final: He lost to Ivailo Marinov from Bulgaria (0:5 decision).

Some people thought the judges' decision in the final might have been unfair.

Michael Carbajal's Professional Boxing Career

Seven months after the Olympics, in February 1989, Carbajal started his professional career. His first fight was shown on national television. He even outboxed another future world champion, Will Grigsby, in that first match.

After that, Carbajal had a fantastic first-round knockout win against Silviano Perez. He then won many more fights. After his tenth fight, he beat Pedro Feliciano. With four more wins, Carbajal got the chance to fight for a world championship title.

Winning the IBF Light Flyweight Title

On July 29, 1990, Carbajal fought Muangchai Kittikasem. Kittikasem came from Thailand to defend his IBF light flyweight championship in Phoenix. Carbajal slowly wore down the champion. In the seventh round, Carbajal landed a series of punches. The referee stopped the fight, making Carbajal a world champion for the first time.

Carbajal then went on a winning streak. He won twelve fights over the next two and a half years. This included six successful title defenses against boxers like Leon Salazar and Kim Kwang-Sun. He also won a non-title fight against future champion Jesus Chong.

Big Fight: Carbajal vs. Humberto "Chiquita" Gonzalez

One of his most exciting fights was against WBC champion Humberto González. This big match happened on March 13, 1993. Carbajal and Gonzalez were the first junior flyweight boxers to earn a million dollars for a fight. It was also the first time a junior flyweight championship was the main event on a Pay Per View show.

Carbajal was knocked down in the second and fifth rounds. He was also bleeding from his eyebrow. But in the seventh round, he landed a powerful left punch to Gonzalez's chin. Gonzalez turned sideways, and Carbajal hit him again with a right hand. Gonzalez fell and could not get up. Michael Carbajal had won and unified the world's junior flyweight championship! This fight was named "Fight of the Year" by The Ring magazine. Carbajal was also named "Fighter of the Year" for 1993.

After this big win, Carbajal got many endorsement deals. He appeared in ads for companies like Diet Pepsi. However, he also faced some challenges outside the ring.

He fought Gonzalez again in a pay-per-view match in Los Angeles. This was his 11th world title fight. Carbajal lost for the first time in his career. It was a close fight, decided by a split decision after 12 rounds.

Winning the WBO Light Flyweight Title

Next, Carbajal fought Abner Barajas and won by knockout in the fifth round. Then, he got another chance at a world title. He fought WBO champion Josue Camacho, who came from Puerto Rico to Phoenix. Carbajal put on an amazing performance. He won a unanimous decision after twelve rounds, becoming a world champion again.

As a title holder once more, Carbajal wanted to get back his IBF and WBC belts. He faced Gonzalez for a third time in November 1994, in Mexico City. Again, it was a very close fight, ending in a split decision. Carbajal lost again. But he didn't give up. He kept training with his brother, Danny Carbajal, who was his only trainer.

Winning the IBF Light Flyweight Title Again

Carbajal then won seven more fights in a row. He beat former world champion Jose Quirino in just one round. He also defeated tough boxer Mauro Salas. After these wins, he fought two-time world champion Melchor Cob Castro in Las Vegas. They fought for the vacant IBF Junior Flyweight title. Carbajal won by unanimous decision, claiming his fourth world title.

His third time as champion lasted 22 months. He defended his title three times, including a knockout win against Tomas Rivera. But on January 18, 1997, Carbajal seemed to have aged. He lost his title to Colombian boxer Mauricio Pastrana in a close split decision.

After that, Carbajal fought Scotty Olson in San Antonio, Texas. Carbajal showed he still had a lot of fight left. He dominated the match until a powerful right hand sent Olson down in the 11th round.

This win gave Carbajal a minor title. But in July 1997, in Las Vegas, he lost to Jacob Matlala from South Africa. Matlala was the first boxer to stop Carbajal inside the distance. The fight was stopped in the ninth round due to cuts. Carbajal did not fight for 19 months after this defeat.

Second Comeback and Retirement

Carbajal announced he was coming back to boxing in early 1999. He won three fights, including a technical knockout against former champion José de Jesús. On July 31, 1999, he traveled to Tijuana to challenge WBO world Junior Flyweight champion Jorge Arce. Arce was fighting in his hometown. Arce controlled most of the early rounds, but Carbajal knocked him down in the sixth round. In the 11th round, Carbajal hit Arce with a right hand that sent him into the ropes. The referee stopped the fight, and Michael Carbajal became a world champion for the fifth time!

After this amazing win, Carbajal retired as a world champion. Today, he lives a quieter life in Phoenix. He still makes many public appearances and enjoys meeting his fans. Carbajal also owns two boxing gyms in Phoenix.

Michael Carbajal and his former rival, Humberto González, were both chosen to be in the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2006.

His final professional record was 49 wins and four losses. He won 33 of his fights by knockout.

Professional Boxing Record

See also

In Spanish: Michael Carbajal para niños

• List of light-flyweight boxing champions