Jorge Arce vs. Michael Carbajal (07-31-1999)

Jorge Arce vs. Michael Carbajal (07-31-1999)

Both of these guys are well known to hardcore boxing fans. They were also two of the many great names mentioned by Alan Conceicao in his beginners guide to boxing 127lbs and under in the "DVDVR Random Boxing Thread". I have seen a handful of Arce fights up to this point and hes already a favorite of mine. A typical all action never retreat Mexican ring warrior with an interesting personality to match. Carbajal is equally awesome but in a different way. He seems very calculated and calm but is just as effective. He was a retired fighter for 18 months until he decided to make a comeback at the age of 31. After 3 tune up fights he landed this shot at Arce's WBO Jr Flyweight title.

Round 1:
Things start slowly, both men measuring each other until Carbajal hits Arce with a right hand. Things open up a little from here. Arce answers with some quick lefts and rights. Arce lands a nice short uppercut and is starting to step inside more and throw some combinations. Nice body shots from Arce. Carbajal doesn't get much done here. Arce is much more active. 10-9 Arce

Round 2:
Arce again with some nice body shots, but he is hitting south and gets a warning. Not a huge round so far. Carbajal is still not very active. Arce landing the right hand a bunch of times in this round. Carbajal is showing more life in the last ten seconds with some combos but Arce backs him up with punches of his own to end the round. 10-9 Arce

Round 3:
Arce is turning it up, he backs Carbajal into a corner and lands a nice left hook to the head. Arce with a beautiful combo in the middle of the ring on Carbajal. Carbajal lands some counter shots on Arce along with a nice right hand. Things are livening up. Arce letting his hands go more. Carbajal has landed some nice counter punches. Arce with more nice body shots near the end of the round. Carbajal is looking better but Arce is still controlling the fight for the majority of the round. 10-9 Arce.

Round 4:
Arce lands a nice left on carbajal and steps out. More nice body work from Arce. Carbajal continues to walk forward and counter some but just looks a step behind Arce. Arce poppin that jab now. Arce a lil lazy with the left and Carbajal landing some counter rights. More good action from both men. I still feel like Arce is doing more but Carbajal is looking better towards the end of each round. 10-9 Arce

Round 5:
Nice left, right landed by Arce. He seems to land the one two almost at will. Tapping Carbajal with the jab now. Carbajal with a nice right hand, pinning Arce against the ropes for a moment, Arce fights out of it. Carbajal becoming more active now but Arce is un-phased and keeps coming back at him. another 10-9 for Arce

Round 6:
More quick combos to start the round for Arce, he gets in and out nicely. Stiff right from Arce. Carbajal back with a nice left hand though. More body work for Arce. Huge right from Carbajal buckles Arce. Arce down but he quickly rises to his feet. Carbajal is turning it on now feeling more confident. Landing nice left hooks to Arce's head. Arce back with lefts and rights and body shots towards the end of the round. Good round for Carbajal. He is starting to land that right hand more and more, perhaps a sign of things to come. 10-8 Carbajal

Round 7:
Stiff right from Carbajal to start the round. He knows what he has to do now. Nice series of rights from Arce now backs Carbajal up. Arce tagging him with lefts and rights again. Arce is turning it on. Carbajal's face is starting to look rough. More combos from Arce. A stiff right from Carbajal near the end of the round. Commentators are talking about low blows by Arce but Carbajal hasn't reacted to one of the low punches so it seems to be a moot point. Arce lands the clean and more effective blows again. 10-9 Arce

Round 8:
Arce pinning Carbajal on the ropes for a moment landing some nice lefts and rights. Arce is dominating so far this round. more low blow talk from the announcers. Arce is landing nice combos at will finishing with a left hook to the body. A right back from Carbajal. thats seems to be his money punch. Nice exchange from both fights at the end of the round. This is all Arce though. 10-9 Arce

Round 9:
Arce is firmly in control of the fight at this point. Carbajal is landing here and there but Arce is always a step ahead. Using the jab on Carbajal again, finishing with a nice right hand. Carbajal's right eye is now almost closed. backs Carbajal into the corner hurting him and forcing him to clinch with Arce. Arce is all over him staying on the inside. Beautiful right hand from Arce that snaps Carbajals head back. Carbajal answers with a left/right at the end of the round but its too little too late to win this round. 10-9 Arce.

Round 10:
Arce feeling comfortable lossening up a little, right hand from Arce. He steps inside and throws a slick combo that ilicits cheers from the mexican crowd. Uppercut from Carbajal. Carbajal coming forward now, lands a right hand. Arce teeing off on Carbajal now backing him up. Carbajal holding on, looks like hes close to being finished. Arce landing crisp punches to finish the round. 10-9 Arce

Round 11:
Slow round so far, Not much happening. Arce staying on the outside. Arce throws a right and before it can land Carbajal lands a crushing right of his own. Arce is hurt bad, Carbajal goes in for the kill landing punch after punch and throws Arce down. Arce is up and wobbles back into the ropes and the ref steps in and stops the fight. WOW. Im surprised. They were very quick to stop the fight in Arce's backyard. Props to Micheal Carbajal though. What a great way to end an already great career.