Humberto González


Humberto González is a Mexican former professional boxer who competed from 1984 to 1995. He is a three-time light-flyweight champion having held the World Boxing Council title three times and then unified with the International Boxing Federation title in 1994.

Professional career

Gonzalez made his professional boxing debut on September 1, 1984 in Mexico City with a four round decision win over Jorge Ortega Perez. Little over three months later, he had his first knockout win, as he beat Narciso Perez in the first round.
By the end of 1987, Gonzalez was 20-0 and held the Mexico light-flyweight title.
In 1988, he won four fights, all by knockout. He retained the national belt against Jose Luis Zepeda in six rounds at Tijuana, and Javier Vazquez, beaten in five at Mexico City.
His next fight, on June 25, 1989, brought two firsts to his career: Celebrated in Chonju, South Korea, it was his first fight abroad. Being for the WBC world Jr. Flyweight championship, it was also his first world title try. Gonzalez outpointed world champion Yul-Woo Lee over 12 rounds to crown himself world champion. On December 9, he again fought in South Korea, retaining his world championship against former champion and future hall of fame member Jung-Koo Chang by a decision in 12. Chang had previously defended the same title a then division record 15 times before vacating it following a brief retirement the year prior.
In 1990, Gonzalez retained the title four times, including a win against future champion Francisco Tejedor, but on December 19, he suffered a shocking defeat to Rolando Pascua, a boxer who was unknown to most boxing experts, in Inglewood. The knockout in round six suffered by Gonzalez that night cost him the world title.
After a win in 1991, Gonzalez recovered the world title, by defeating the man who had taken the world championship away from Pascua: Melchor Cob Castro. Gonzalez and Castro met on June 3 at Las Vegas, and Gonzalez won a 12 round decision.
In 1992, he retained the title four times, beating Castro in a rematch, reigning Olympic flyweight gold medalist Kim Kwang-sun, Domingo Sosa and former world champion Napa Kiatwanchai.
By then, talks about a superfight between him and IBF world champion Michael Carbajal were common among boxing fans. The fight, which came on March 13, 1993, was the first million-dollar fight in Jr. Flyweight boxing history and also the first Jr. Flyweight fight in history to head a Pay Per View boxing card. In front of many Hollywood stars and thousands of fans at the arena, Gonzalez dropped Carbajal in rounds two and five, but Carbajal recovered to knock Gonzalez out in round seven. He finished the year with two ten round decision wins, including one against Pablo Tiznado, a boxer who also fought against Alex Sanchez.
Carbajal and Gonzalez met in a rematch February 19, 1994 at Inglewood, and the second time around, Gonzalez became a three time world Jr. Flyweight champion by beating Carbajal by decision in 12. With that win, he joined an exclusive group of boxers who have been world champions three times or more in the same division, alongside such others as Muhammad Ali, Carlos De León, Evander Holyfield and Sugar Ray Robinson. Gonzalez won two more fights, one a non-title bout, and the other a title defense versus Juan Domingo Córdoba. Then, on November 12 of the same year, he and Carbajal had a rubber match, this time in Mexico City. Gonzalez again prevailed, on points over 12 rounds.
After retaining the title once in 1995, on July 15 of that year, he fought for the last time. Again, he dropped his rival, Saman Sorjaturong, a couple of times before being knocked out in round seven to lose his world title.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
46Loss43–3Saman SorjaturongTKO7, 0:58Jul 15, 1995Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S.Lost WBC and IBF light flyweight titles
45Win43–2Jesus ZunigaKO5, 1:26Mar 31, 1995Arrowhead Pond, Anaheim, California, U.S.Retained WBC and IBF light flyweight titles
44Win42–2Michael CarbajalMD12Nov 12, 1994Plaza de Toros México, Mexico City, MexicoRetained WBC and IBF light flyweight titles
43Win41–2Juan Domingo CórdobaRTD7, 3:00Sep 10, 1994Caesars Tahoe, Stateline, Nevada, U.S.Retained WBC and IBF light flyweight titles
42Win40–2Armando DiazTKO3 Jul 8, 1994Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S.
41Win39–2Michael CarbajalSD12Feb 19, 1994Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S.Won WBC and IBF light flyweight titles
40Win38–2Armando DiazUD10Nov 17, 1993Caesars Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
39Win37–2Pablo TiznadoUD10Aug 28, 1993Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S.
38Loss36–2Michael CarbajalKO7, 2:59Mar 13, 1993Hilton Hotel, Winchester, Nevada, U.S.Lost WBC light flyweight title;
For IBF light flyweight title
37Win36–1Melchor Cob CastroUD12Dec 7, 1992Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S.Retained WBC light flyweight title
36Win35–1Napa KiatwanchaiKO2, 2:48Sep 14, 1992Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S.Retained WBC light flyweight title
35Win34–1Kwang-sun KimTKO12, 0:55Jun 7, 1992Olympic Fencing Gymnasium, Seoul, South KoreaRetained WBC light flyweight title
34Win33–1Domingo SosaUD12Jan 27, 1992Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S.Retained WBC light flyweight title
33Win32–1Melchor Cob CastroUD12Jun 3, 1991Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.Won WBC light flyweight title
32Win31–1Rey HernandezKO9 Mar 15, 1991Ciudad Juárez, Mexico
31Loss30–1Rolando PascuaKO6, 2:24Dec 19, 1990Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S.Lost WBC light flyweight title
30Win30–0Jorge RiveraTKO9, 1:37Aug 25, 1990Plaza de Toros, Cancún, MexicoRetained WBC light flyweight title
29Win29–0Jung Keun LimTKO5, 0:34Jul 23, 1990Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S.Retained WBC light flyweight title
28Win28–0Luis MonzoteTKO3, 0:54Jun 4, 1990Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S.Retained WBC light flyweight title
27Win27–0Francisco TejedorKO3, 0:31Mar 24, 1990Arena México, Mexico City, MexicoRetained WBC light flyweight title
26Win26–0Jung-koo ChangUD12Dec 9, 1989Indoor Gymnasium, Daegu, South KoreaRetained WBC light flyweight title
25Win25–0Yul-woo LeeUD12Jun 25, 1989Cheongju Gymnasium, Cheongju, South KoreaWon WBC light flyweight title
24Win24–0Jorge RiveraKO4 Oct 22, 1988Cozumel, Mexico
23Win23–0Atanasio Villareal4 Oct 1, 1988Mexico City, Mexico
22Win22–0Javier VarguezTKO5 Jun 4, 1988Mexico City, MexicoRetained Mexican light flyweight title
21Win21–0Jose Luis ZepedaTKO6 Mar 5, 1988Tijuana, MexicoRetained Mexican light flyweight title
20Win20–0Jorge CanoPTS12Sep 26, 1987Cancún, MexicoWon Mexican light flyweight title
19Win19–0Jose Manuel DiazKO2 Jul 25, 1987Palacio de los Deportes, Mexico City, Mexico
18Win18–0Santiago Mendez GamboaKO8 Jun 13, 1987Mexico City, Mexico
17Win17–0Ruben PadillaTKO7 May 9, 1987Mexico City, Mexico
16Win16–0Javier AlonsoKO1 Feb 27, 1987Acapulco, Mexico
15Win15–0Jorge GutierrezTKO6 Dec 6, 1986Mexico City, Mexico
14Win14–0Agustin MaciasTKO4 Oct 8, 1986Mexico City, Mexico
13Win13–0Martin OrtegaKO1 Jul 14, 1986Mexico City, Mexico
12Win12–0Alcibiades HernandezTKO2 Jun 18, 1986Mexico City, Mexico
11Win11–0Sergio MedinaKO3 May 22, 1986Ciudad Nezahualcóyotl, Mexico
10Win10–0Martin PerezTKO2 Mar 15, 1986Arena Coliseo, Mexico City, Mexico
9Win9–0Carlos RezagoKO5 Dec 14, 1985Mexico City, Mexico
8Win8–0Javier AlvarezTKO1 Nov 9, 1985Mexico City, Mexico
7Win7–0Eduardo RamirezPTS6Sep 7, 1985Mexico City, Mexico
6Win6–0Otilio GallegosTKO2 Jul 27, 1985Mexico City, Mexico
5Win5–0Martin AlvarezTKO2 Jun 8, 1985Mexico City, Mexico
4Win4–0Francisco VillagomezTKO1 Apr 20, 1985Mexico City, Mexico
3Win3–0Carmelo PerezKO1 Feb 20, 1985Mexico City, Mexico
2Win2–0Narciso PerezTKO1 Dec 19, 1984Mexico City, Mexico
1Win1–0Jorge OrtegaPTS4Sep 4, 1984Mexico City, Mexico

Retirement

Immediately after the fight with Sorjaturong, he announced he was retiring, to pursue another dream of his: to become a successful businessman in Mexico City. Gonzalez had a record of 43 wins and 3 losses as a professional boxer, with 30 wins by knockout.

Life after boxing

Gonzalez has stayed retired ever since, and he has been able to open three meat markets in Mexico. He is a part-time butcher in his shops, and has been able to reach the business success he dreamed about.

Trivia

His first fight with Carbajal and his fight with Sorjaturong were both chosen as 1993 and 1995's Fight of the Year by The Ring. The Ring also placed Carbajal and Gonzalez on their list of the 100 greatest punchers of all time.
Both Humberto González and former rival Michael Carbajal were elected into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2006.
He earned many admirers during his professional boxing career. Female boxer Delia Gonzalez was one of them, and is nicknamed Chikita after Humberto.