Michael Carbajal Day in Phoenix

By Bart Barry

PHOENIX, AZ – Wednesday night, the city of Phoenix and the state of Arizona honored soon-to-be Hall of Famer Michael Carbajal with a dinner at American Legion Post 41 in the downtown area. Present at the event were boxing luminaries such as Roberto Duran, Bob Arum, and Mike Tyson, as well as nostalgic fans and local community leaders.

Timed to coincide with Mr. Carbajal’s upcoming induction to Canastota, the event commemorated Michael’s outstanding contribution to the sport of boxing and the people of Arizona. It also included a message from Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano, proclaiming May 31, 2006, “Michael Carbajal Day.”

The winner of a silver medal in the 1988 Olympic Games and later recognition as Junior-Flyweight World Champion, Michael Carbajal has never lived anywhere but Phoenix – and is probably Arizona’s first born-and-bred Hall of Fame athlete. As a tribute to this, Wednesday’s event was held less than five miles from the neighborhood in which Mr. Carbajal was raised, and still lives today.

Chairperson of the Arizona Boxing Commission, Mary Rose Wilcox, began an evening of tributes by welcoming local sportscaster Jude LaCava, who would go on to emcee the event with help from Top Rank promoter Bill Caplan. City Councilman Michael Jones and State Representative Ben Miranda would each then speak warmly of the positive image Michael Carbajal has provided for the youth of Arizona.

Soon afterwards came an emotional acknowledgement of Michael’s achievements from Michael’s older brother and only trainer, Danny Carbajal. Danny spoke of the family’s time at the Olympics, his initial meeting with Top Rank’s Bob Arum, and the unbreakable bond he will always share with his brother.

Bob Arum later spoke of his initial doubts about a junior-flyweight Olympian making any money as a prizefighter: “What are you nuts?” Mr. Arum recalled saying. “What am I gonna do with a hundred-and-eight pounder?”

The evening’s highlight for Michael Carbajal and all in attendance, though, came when Carbajal’s hero, boxing legend “Manos de Piedra (Hands of Stone)” Roberto Duran, took the podium and saluted “Manitas de Piedra” Michael Carbajal. Speaking in Spanish without any notes, Mr. Duran talked at length about his own fights and his pride in “Little Hands of Stone.”

After telling Michael, “I love you like a son,” Mr. Duran concluded his remarks by saying to Mr. Carbajal, “I want to congratulate you – as a friend and as a brother.”

Finally, the night concluded with a tribute to esteemed boxing writer Norm Frauenheim and the masterwork he made, and continues to make, of covering Michael Carbajal for the Arizona Republic. Among the wisest and most-accomplished of all boxing writers, Mr. Frauenheim has been the figure most responsible for presenting Michael Carbajal to the world – through his tireless coverage and celebration of Arizona boxing.

Also honored was longtime Arizona Executive Director of Boxing, John Montano. And also in attendance were former cruiserweight champ Vassiliy Jirov, current cruiserweight contender BJ Flores, and Referee Tony Weeks.