Exactly 25 years have passed since that magical night of boxing on July 31, 1999, when the immense American champion Michael “Manitas de Piedra” Carbajal performed his last feat within the sixteen ropes. On that date, the veteran of the ring, who, although not yet 32 years old, was considered by many to be a boxer in decline due to too many grueling battles, won by technical KO against the young Mexican promise Jorge “Travieso” Arce, taking the WBO light flyweight world title.
The Young Promise Against the Veteran: A Classic Intergenerational Challenge
When a young rising star in boxing starts showing the world that he has special talent, it often happens that his managers decide to test his abilities against a big name considered to be in decline. This allows the young fighter to gain experience while heavily publicizing the event due to the rival’s fame, theoretically without excessive risks. This is what Jorge Arce’s team probably thought when the agreement was formalized to face Carbajal at the Plaza de Toros in Tijuana. The young “Travieso” had just turned 20 but already had significant ambitions, having won the WBO world title seven months earlier and then brilliantly defending the belt away in Sassari against the Italian Salvatore Fanni.
Michael “Manitas de Piedra” Carbajal, whose nickname was a clear homage to his idol Roberto Duran, had been an authentic star. A three-time world champion in the light flyweight division, the American had showcased all his talent in the first half of the ’90s, being involved in several unforgettable battles, most notably the historic trilogy against the very strong Mexican boxer Humberto Gonzalez. However, a lot of water had passed under the bridge since then, and for some years Carbajal had given the impression of no longer being the unstoppable warrior of his best days. The fight against Arce was thus imagined by the organizers as the last parade for the declining champion before hanging up his gloves, and indeed it was, but in a very different sense than expected…
Boxing Is Cruel: One Punch Can Turn Everything Around
Those who followed Jorge Arce’s career in the years after the fight we are discussing will undoubtedly remember his daring style, bordering on recklessness, which often led him to engage in fierce battles to the delight of the public. However, that day in Tijuana, the young Mexican knew he was facing a ring legend and adjusted accordingly, proposing a smart and effective tactical strategy. Arce left the center of the ring to his rival, moving quickly around him and launching fast combinations of two or three punches every time Carbajal tried to close the distance.
After an initial tactical round that the challenger might have won due to the greater incisiveness of his punches, the local idol clearly took over. Carbajal could not keep up with the young champion in terms of pace and speed of execution: for every punch he landed, he received three in return, and Arce’s constant movement prevented him from maintaining continuity in his work, forcing him to restart the attack after each close exchange. After five rounds, everything seemed to be going as the reigning champion’s team had anticipated, but the road ahead was still long and fraught with danger…
Like a bolt from the blue, in the middle of the sixth round, Carbajal’s right hand struck. The ring veteran saw the right opening, loaded his best punch, and hit his opponent’s jaw, sending him to the canvas to the general astonishment. “Manitas de Piedra” tried to press further for the KO, but after getting up, Arce gritted his teeth and fought like a lion, managing to reach the end of the round.
After the scare, the champion patiently resumed weaving his web. His constant movement, quick hands, and athletic freshness prevented Carbajal from maintaining the momentum, and the challenger began to lose ground on the scorecards, also due to a right eye increasingly swollen and close to closing completely, worsening by the minute. Entering the championship rounds, Jorge Arce’s points lead, despite the knockdown, seemed reassuring. As it was later revealed, the three judges had awarded Carbajal only the sixth round and therefore had a seven-point margin in favor of the champion.
In the eleventh round, Travieso seemed perfectly aware of the need to avoid unnecessary risks. The Mexican moved in circles without stopping, minimized exchanges, managed the challenger’s pressure with the calm and wisdom of an experienced fighter, but then suddenly decided to load a powerful right hand, and that choice was his downfall. Carbajal noticed the opportune moment in a split second and launched his own right simultaneously with his rival’s, hitting him violently on the tip of the chin. For a moment, Arce was almost paralyzed on the spot, then was hit by another barrage of punches, grabbed his opponent, stumbled, and fell. There were all the elements to proceed with a count, but referee Raul Caiz Sr had a different opinion and immediately urged the champion to get up. However, when the latter showed instability on his feet, staggering and involuntarily backing towards the ropes, the referee declared a technical KO, ending the hostilities.
Without detracting from Michael Carbajal’s great sporting achievement, who, despite a swollen eye, despite the burden of 52 previous fights, despite an apparently desperate situation, never stopped seeking the right opening to deliver the decisive blow, it must be said that the stoppage was slightly controversial. If Mr. Caiz had indeed performed a count after Arce kneeled, visibly shaken by the challenger’s punches, perhaps the young Mexican boxer would have regained the clarity needed to stand up stably and finish the fight.
On the other hand, in a certain sense, it was better this way. Jorge Arce indeed recovered greatly from that debacle and built a fantastic successful career in the following years, showing that the KO defeat neither demoralized nor physically weakened him. Michael Carbajal, in contrast, could hang up his gloves as a winner, having painted one last stunning masterpiece to crown a career as an authentic ring artist.