Some people follow only the heavy categories in international boxing, showing little interest in the “little guys.” However, the lighter divisions have often delivered unmatched levels of excitement. Those who followed the career of Mexican Humberto “Chiquita” Gonzalez know this well, as he provided his fans with countless unforgettable wars in the light flyweight division. Today, we recount the last of his breathtaking battles, which took place exactly 29 years ago when he ceded his WBC and IBF titles to the dangerous Thai challenger Saman Sorjaturong. This fight was honored with the title of Fight of the Year.
Chiquita Gonzalez: A Little Marvin Hagler?
Practically ambidextrous and extremely powerful with both hands, Gonzalez preferred the southpaw stance but was perfectly comfortable in the orthodox stance, often switching between the two at will. This extraordinary versatility, combined with lion-hearted courage and top-notch offensive technique, made the Mexican boxer’s style very similar to that of the great middleweight Marvin Hagler. However, what “Chiquita” lacked compared to the immense quality of the “Marvelous” one was durability: Gonzalez was not fragile, but he certainly did not match Hagler’s legendary solidity, known for standing firm even if hit with a baseball bat. The small Mexican slugger relied heavily on his ability to absorb punches but proved not to be invulnerable. His frequent and reckless offensive forays sometimes exposed him to nasty surprises, as evidenced by his three knockout losses, the last of which is the subject of our story today.
Saman Sorjaturong: A Harsh Lesson That Bore Fruit
Before the bell of the Great Western Forum in Inglewood rang to start the hostilities, few knew the Thai challenger who stepped into the ring to face the famous Chiquita. Those who remembered him had seen him briefly two years earlier during his ill-fated attempt to win the strawweight world title. On that occasion, Sorjaturong was swept away by the superb Ricardo Lopez in just two rounds, hitting the canvas three times: a debacle so quick and decisive that it greatly diminished the Thai athlete’s reputation. Therefore, at that time, no one expected the Asian boxer to take the world throne and remain there for over four years. However, in those few glimpses of the fight against the champion Lopez, Sorjaturong learned his lesson, became aware of his limits, and was ready to show the world a more cunning and mature version of himself.
A Poisonous Right Hand to Which the Champion Finds No Counter
Mindful of the beating he suffered two years earlier, the challenger approached this second world title attempt with considerable caution, moving quickly on his feet to evade Gonzalez’s advances and waiting for the right moment to sting him with his right hand. That moment came very early: after an uneventful first round, the champion, due to an accidental headbutt, suddenly found himself unguarded and was floored by a lightning-fast right hand, getting up immediately. What was supposed to be a routine defense suddenly turned into a complicated and perilous ordeal for the world champion. What troubled him most was the superior hand speed of his rival, whose quick right hand pierced Chiquita’s southpaw guard too many times. It is inexplicable why the Mexican never tried to switch to his orthodox guard during this fight, as he had done many times in the past.
Knockdowns and Twists: No Wonder It’s a Fight of the Year!
Gonzalez’s solution was instead a frontal assault: he dramatically increased the pace to prevent his opponent from weaving his web, and after a thrilling fourth round in which both fighters were shaken, he came close to overwhelming him. In both the fifth and sixth rounds, Sorjaturong was forced to kneel and take the referee’s count to escape the barrage of punches that was raining down on him. What saved him was his propensity to retreat, thus softening some of the hardest blows, and especially his composure in going down at critical moments to catch his breath and regroup. Gonzalez, on the other hand, lacked this composure, and in the fateful seventh round, just when the war seemed to be turning in his favor, he was dramatically undone. Chiquita was floored at the beginning of the round by yet another right hand during a memorable exchange. Once back on his feet, he was assaulted by a frenzied Sorjaturong and did not have the presence of mind to take a knee: he tried to hold on stoically, and referee Lou Filippo had no choice but to stop the fight. The victorious challenger had his right eye completely closed and part of his face swollen, but he was, of course, on cloud nine.
Gonzalez made no excuses and initially called for a rematch, only to change his mind later, retiring from boxing to embark on a successful entrepreneurial career in the meat market. The small great Chiquita never gave us another breathless war, but the ones he left behind are more than enough to rank him among the most spectacular and thrilling boxers in the history of boxing.