Humberto Gonzalez
Titles: WBC jr. flyweight champion 1989-1990, WBC jr. flyweight champion
1991-1993, WBC/IBF jr. flyweight champion 1994-1995
Record: 41-3
Born: March 25, 1966 in Netzahualcoyotl, Mexico City, Mexico
Years active: 1984-1995
Nickname: Chiquita
Gonzalez was known affectionately as "Chiquita" (spanish for "little one")
because of his small stature (only 5 feet 2 inches tall) it was a deceiving
nickname because he packed one of the most explosive punches that the
weight had ever seen. Gonzalez was one of 10 children born to a Mexico City
butcher who grew up to become the second most popular boxer of his country
in his time behind only the great Julio Cesar Chavez. Gonzalez hunted his
foe's down with left hooks which crashed home from deceiving angles because
of the slick side the side movement Gonzalez employed. Like other big
bangers Gonzalez seemed to also have the fatal flaw that seems to accompany
big punchers.....he could be knocked out. In fact all his losses came via
TKO or KO. Both were factors in the bout for which he will perhaps most be
remembered for. It was a unification fight with Michael Carbajal in which
he knocked Carbajal down twice only to run into a big counterpunch that
seperated him from his senses and his title. That first fight with Carbajal
could very well be the best fight of the 90's. Humberto was also a very
smart boxer and he knew that he could not match power with Michael Carbajal
and in 2 rematches outboxed his foe to controversial wins. Before the
colossal fights with Carbajal, Humberto established his reputation by
beating the best available fighters on his way to a 12 round win over
Yul-Woo Lee in the champions home town for the WBC light flyweight title.
He returned to Korea to easily defeat former Korean legend Jung Koo Chang
over 12 horribly one sided rounds. Four more defenses followed over good
challengers. Then in the biggest upset the division had seen in the 90's
or perhaps ever he lost his title to Filipino Rolando Pascua. Gonzalez
quickly won the title backby beating Pascua's conqueror Melchor Cob Castro
but his reputation had been tarnished. His next 4 title defenses were all
fought with a eye on the man who would become his arch enemy Michael
Carbajal. the best of those defenses came against former Korean Olympic
Gold Medalist Kwang-sun Kim whom Gonzalez defeated in front of 15,000
shouting Koreans. Finally the deal to fight Carbajal was made and the two
best mini flyweight of the decade fought for the first time with thrilling
and chilling results. Humberto took the fight to Carbajal from the start
and pressured him to the ropes on many occasions while ripping well
targeted body and head shots. Carbajal came of the canvas twice and landed
a counter left that saved him from being knocked out himself as he caught
a on rushing Gonzalez flush on the jaw. In the second fight which did not
feature much action the smaller Gonzalez boxed well and overcame a serious
cut over his eye to win a close split decision. The fight featured a
Gonzalez who was able to overcome his reach disadvantage by switching his
stance from minute to minute and counterpunching accurately. The third
fight between the two was a repeat of the second fight as Gonzalez played
hide and seek with a frustrated Carbajal who could not corner Gonzalez
with his looping power punches. The third reign of Gonzalez was finally
stopped by the power punching Saman Sorjaturong. It was a fight that
Chipuita was wining handily but again in a fateful seventh round the
aggressive nature of Gonzalez caught up with him. Sorjaturong behind on
points with his eyes both cut and swelling landed a counter punch that
Gonzalez in his haste to knock out Sorjaturong ran right into. The follow
up flurry by Saman left the referee no choice but to call a halt to the
bout. Once again Gonzalez proved he was a smart man by giving into the
pleas of his wife and announcing his retirement from which he has not
returned. With all the great wins that Humberto scored it is sad that we
will remember him for his two knock out defeats at the hands of Carbajal
and Sorjaturong which both deserve to be mentioned as 2 of the 10 best
fights of the 90's.
Humberto Gonzalez
Career Record: 43 W, 3 L (32 K.O's)
1984
Sep 1 Jorge Ortega Mexico City W 4
Dec 19 Narcisco Perez Mexico City KO 1
1985
Feb 20 Carmelo Perez Mexico City KO 1
Apr 20 Francisco Villagomez Mexico City KO 2
Jun 8 Martin Alvarez Mexico City KO 2
Jul 27 Otilio Gallegos Mexico City KO 2
Sep 7 Eduardo Ramirez Mexico City KO 4
Nov 9 Javier Alvarez Mexico City KO 1
Dec 14 Carlos Rezago Mexico City KO 5
1986
Mar 15 Martin Perez Mexico City KO 2
May 22 Sergio Medina Netzahualcoyotl, Mexico KO 3
Jun 18 Alcides Hernandez Mexico City KO 2
Jul 14 Martin Ortega Mexico City KO 1
Oct 8 Agustin Macias Mexico City KO 4
Dec 6 Jorge Gutierrez Mexico City KO 6
1987
Feb 22 Javier Alonso Acapulco, Mexico KO 1
May 9 Ruben Padilla Mexico City KO 7
Jun 13 Santiago Mendez Mexico City KO 8
Jul 25 Jose Manuel Diaz Mexico City KO 2
Sep 26 Jorge Cano Cancun, Mexico W 12
1988
Mar 5 Jose Luis Zepeda Tijuana KO 6
Jun 4 Javier Vasquez Mexico City KO 5
Oct 1 Atanasio Villareal Mexico City KO 4
Oct 22 Jorge Rivera Cozumuel, Mexico KO 4
1989
Jun 25 Yul-Woo Lee Chonju, South Korea W 12
(Wins WBC Jr. Flyweight Title)
Dec 9 Jung-Koo Chang Taegu, South Korea W 12
(Retains WBC Jr. Flyweight Title)
1990
Mar 24 Francisco Tejedor Mexico City KO 3
(Retains WBC Jr. Flyweight Title)
Jun 4 Luis Monzote Inglewood, CA KO 3
(Retains WBC Jr. Flyweight Title)
Jul 23 Jung-Keun Lim Inglewood, CA KO 5
(Retains WBC Jr. Flyweight Title)
Aug 25 Jorge Rivera Cancun, Mexico KO 9
(Retains WBC Jr. Flyweight Title)
Dec 19 Rolando Pascua Inglewood, CA KO by 6
(Loses WBC Jr. Flyweight Title)
1991
Mar 15 Rey Hernandez Ciudad Juarez, Mexico KO 9
Jun 3 Melchor Cob Castro Las Vegas W 12
(Regains WBC Jr. Flyweight Title)
1992
Jan 27 Domingo Sosa Inglewood, CA W 12
(Retains WBC Jr. Flyweight Title)
Jun 7 Kwang-Sun Kim Seoul KO 12
(Retains WBC Jr. Flyweight Title)
Sep 14 Napa Kiatwanchai Inglewood, CA KO 2
(Retains WBC Jr. Flyweight Title)
Dec 7 Melchor Cob Castro Inglewood, CA W 12
(Retains WBC Jr. Flyweight Title)
1993
Mar 13 Michael Carbajal Las Vegas KO by 7
(For IBF and World, Loses WBC Jr. Flyweight Title)
Aug 28 Pablo Tiznado Inglewood, CA W 10
Nov 17 Armando Diaz Atlantic City W 10
1994
Feb 19 Michael Carbajal Inglewood, CA W 12
(Regains WBC, Wins IBF and World Jr. Flyweight Titles)
Jul 8 Armando Diaz Inglewood, CA KO 3
Sep 10 Juan Domingo Cordoba Lake Tahoe, NV KO 8
(Retains World Jr. Flyweight Title)
Nov 12 Michael Carbajal Mexico City W 12
(Retains World Jr. Flyweight Title)
1995
Mar 31 Jesus Zuniga Anaheim, CA KO 5
(Retains World Jr. Flyweight Title)
Jul 15 Saman Sorjaturong Inglewood, CA KO by 7
(Loses World Jr. Flyweight Title)