09/17/2026
Wishing a very happy birthday today, September 17, to Michael Carbajal who was born in 1967 in Phoenix, Arizona. He is a five-time world champion nicknamed "Little Hands Of Stone," after his favorite boxer Roberto Durán.
Michael had an amateur record of 94-9 culminating in a silver medal as a Light Flyweight at the 1988 Seoul Olympics in South Korea. He was the 1986 and 1988 National Golden Gloves Light Flyweight champion and the 1987 silver medalist at the 1987 Pan American Games.
Seven months after the Olympics, in February 1989, Michael made his professional debut in front of a national television audience as part of the card where Duran became a four-time world champion by beating Iran Barkley in Atlantic City. In his first fight, Carbajal outboxed another future world champion, Will Grigsby.
On July 29, 1990, Carbajal faced Muangchai Kittikasem, who came to Phoenix from Thailand to defend his IBF light flyweight championship. Carbajal methodically took apart the champion in front of an ABC national audience. In round 7, after a combination of punches left Kittikasem lying defenseless against the ropes, the referee stepped in and stopped the fight, making Carbajal the world champion for the first time in his career.
Michael began a string of twelve victories over the next two and a half years, including six title defenses against challengers such as Leon Salazar, Hector Patri, Kim Kwang-Sun and Robinson Cuesta, and a win over future champion Jesus Chong in a non-title fight.
He then fought a highly anticipated unification match with WBC champion Humberto González on March 13, 1993. Carbajal and Gonzalez became the first Junior Flyweights in history to earn a million-dollar purse, and it was the first Junior Flyweight "Superfight" and championship bout to headline a Pay Per View event.
Michael was downed in rounds 2 and 5, and he was bleeding from his right eyebrow when he blasted a tremendous left hand to the side of Gonzalez's chin in the seventh round. Gonzalez turned sideways, and Carbajal landed another right hand that sent him to the canvas. Gonzalez could not beat the count, and Michael had unified the world's Junior Flyweight championship in The Ring's fight of the year. He would also be named fighter of the year for 1993.
After two additional defenses, Michael fought Gonzalez once again in a pay-per-view match in Los Angeles, California. In his 11th world title fight, Carbajal suffered the first loss of his career as he was defeated by a controversial 12 round split decision.
Michael was given another shot at a world title by the WBO champion Josue Camacho, who came from Puerto Rico to the challenger's hometown to defend his title. Carbajal put on a brilliant performance and won a unanimous twelve-round decision over Camacho.
A title holder again, Michael tried to recover his IBF and WBC belts against Gonzalez in a third unification bout between the boxers. In November 1994, three months after the Camacho victory, they met once again, this time in Mexico City. Once again, it was a split decision, and once again, Carbajal came out on the losing end.
Michael announced a comeback early in 1999. He won three bouts, including a TKO victory over former champion José de Jesús, and on July 31, 1999, he took the short flight from Phoenix to Tijuana to challenge WBO world Junior Flyweight champion Jorge Arce, who was fighting in his hometown. Arce dominated Carbajal for nine of the first ten rounds, but Carbajal floored the 21-year-old Arce in the sixth round. The fight moved along, and in the 11th round, Carbajal struck Arce with a right hand that sent him into the ropes. The referee stopped the fight, and Michael Carbajal was a world champion for the fifth time. After this fight, Michael retired as a world champ. His career record was 49 wins against four losses, with 33 wins coming by way of knockout.
Michael is living a quieter life nowadays in Phoenix, but he does many public appearances. He enjoys meeting the public and signing autographs for fans. Michael owns two boxing gyms in Phoenix.
Michael and former rival Humberto González were elected together to the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2006.
Happy birthday and many more.
