Sports People: Carbajal, ‘Chiquita’ Gonzalez enshrined
by The Associated Press on Jun. 12, 2006, under SportsCANASTOTA, N.Y. – Rivals Michael Carbajal and Humberto “Chiquita” Gonzalez elevated the flyweight division to prominence with their three classic fights in the mid-1990s.
Meeting again Sunday, they were enshrined together in the International Boxing Hall of Fame along with 10 other fighters and ring personalities, including late lightweight champion Edwin Rosario of Puerto Rico and historian Hank Kaplan.
“We had three great fights. We put on a show and showed that the little guys could hit as hard as the heavyweights, both of us,” said Carbajal, of Phoenix, who wept as he received his Hall of Fame ring.
In what many called the fight of the year in 1993, the hard-hitting “Little Hands of Stone” Carbajal rose from two knockdowns to stop the Mexican Gonzalez with a seventh-round knockout.
The fight in a Las Vegas casino parking lot drew 20,000 fans and a worldwide pay-for-view audience and generated the first $1 million purse for a flyweight fight.
A silver medalist in the 1988 Seoul Olympics, the charismatic Carbajal’s style and fights with Gonzalez helped rekindle interest in the 108-pound class. Their styles were a contrast. Gonzalez delivered punches in bunches,, looking for the big hit. Carbajal was the boxer, making his punches with purpose.
Carbajal defeated Gonzalez in their first match March 13, 1993, to unify the IBF and WBC titles.
Gonzalez reclaimed the title with a 12-round split decision in a February 1994 rematch, giving Carbajal his first pro loss. Gonzalez won another 12-round split decision in a follow-up rubber match in November 1994.
Carbajal, 38, owns and runs a gym in Phoenix. Gonzalez, 40, operates a reception hall in Mexico City.
Others inducted Sunday were welterweight and middleweight champ Lou Broulliard, light heavyweight champ Jimmy Slattery, middleweight champ Teddy Yarosz, 19th-century English lightweight champ Jem Carney, publisher Stanley Weston, English promoter Jarvis Astaire, trainer Whitey Bimstein and Italian promoter Rodolfo Sabbatini.
Hopkins ready to retire
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. – This was one doozy of a retirement party for Bernard Hopkins.
The star middleweight ended his boxing career after 18 years and 52 fights with a storybook finish – a unanimous decision in an upset of light heavyweight champion Antonio Tarver.
“I’m done, I’m done, I’m done,” he said. “I don’t need to risk anything else.”
He risked plenty Saturday.
At 41, coming off back-to-back losses, he jumped two weight classes to take on the 175-pound champion in hopes of doing what his idol Sugar Ray Robinson couldn’t – win a light heavyweight title.
The big night for Hopkins started when his sisters, wife and teachers were brought into the ring in a tribute before a video about his career played on the scoreboard. A who’s who of Hollywood and pro sports watched from ringside, with announced spectators including Michael Jordan, Patrick Ewing, Allen Iverson, Edgerrin James and Julius Erving.
Asked by HBO if he would consider coming back for a $20 million payday, Hopkins replied: “I might come out of my grave for that kind of money.”
A 3-1 underdog, Hopkins thwarted Tarver’s jab, attacked him with combinations whenever he tried to get close and controlled the tempo from the opening bell.
Leipheimer wins race
GRENOBLE, France – Levi Leipheimer tuned up for next month’s Tour de France by capturing the Dauphine Libere on Sunday, becoming the fourth American to win the cycling race.
The rider from Santa Rosa, Calif., despite not winning any of the seven stages, finished 1 minute, 48 seconds ahead of France’s Christophe Moreau in the overall standings.
Chicago wins Arena Bowl
LAS VEGAS – The Chicago Rush took a page out of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ book.
Matt D’Orazio passed for six touchdowns and ran for two more, and the Rush completed an unlikely run to the Arena Football League championship Sunday by beating the Orlando Predators 69-61 in the 20th ArenaBowl.
The Rush won three straight road playoff games to reach the ArenaBowl – just as the Steelers did last winter before beating Seattle to win the Super Bowl.
After losing six of seven games at one point, it appeared the Rush would miss the playoffs. But they won three of their final four to qualify before their triumphant postseason run.
