A Calmer Gonzalez Beats Carbajal

Finesse, not a free-for-all. Smarts, not heart.

To the shock of almost everyone except Humberto (Chiquita) Gonzalez, the sequel to a slugfest began sleepily, developed subtly and was won with a demonstration of precision.

Using a frustrating style and ignoring a deep gash that opened up in the early rounds over his left eye, Gonzalez avoided the all-out pace of his first fight against Michael Carbajal, and avoided Carbajal’s jolting left hook in the process.

The result was Gonzalez winning by split decision, and taking two-thirds of the light-flyweight championship from Carbajal on Saturday night before 10,333 at the Forum in a fight that never seemed to fall into a real rhythm.

There were flashes of fury and occasional blasts like the past, but for the most part, the rematch was a faint echo of the first raucous fight between Carbajal and Gonzalez, two fighters who had grown more wary, not wild, after almost a year.

Carbajal at times tried to get Gonzalez to join him in a brawl, and landed some heavy right hands in the process, but looked frustrated by the middle rounds and never jarred Gonzalez.

There were no knockdowns, in direct contrast to the first fight, in which Carbajal was sent to the canvas twice before knocking out Gonzalez in the seventh.

“I was trying to get him to fight,” Carbajal said. “He’s a fighter. But against me, it’s a different story.”

Judge Hank Elespuru of Sacramento scored it 117-113 for Gonzalez, and Ray Solis of Mexico scored it 115-113 for the winner. Mike Munoz from Phoenix scored it 115-114 for Carbajal.

Carbajal now is 30-1, Gonzalez 38-2.

Obviously recalling the devastating knockout he suffered last March 13 at Carbajal’s hands, Gonzalez, from Mexico, never was in serious trouble Saturday night, though his nimble retreats did draw some boos.

He slowly gained momentum starting with the fifth round and won the ninth through the 12th on two of the three judges’ cards.

“My plan was to put on pressure in the later rounds,” said Gonzalez, the new International Boxing Federation and World Boxing Council champion. It’s the second time Gonzalez has regained the WBC crown.

“That was my plan from beginning to end, to start slow and build momentum. I kept going.”

Gonzalez stayed away from Carbajal’s power punches through most of the first four rounds, and the blood streaming down his left cheek never seemed to quicken his pace or bother him.

In the fifth, Gonzalez finally began moving forward, plying Carbajal with sharp combinations from a left-handed stance. The first signs of a possible repeat of the action of the first fight came in the sixth round, with Gonzalez zeroing in on Carbajal and Carbajal answering with overhand rights.

In the eighth, Gonzalez waded in again, scoring against Carbajal’s head with several right and left hooks. But he backed away before he could do any real damage.

By the ninth, Gonzalez was scoring often, but neither fighter had hurt the other.

The 10th was a triumph of Gonzalez’s strategy, as he leaned in for effective combinations, then pulled out of the way before Carbajal could catch him with any meaningful punches.

Gonzalez started quickly again in the 11th, and again bounced away from close quarters before Carbajal could unleash. He stuck and moved through most of the rest of the round, then landed several heavy shots in the final minute, appearing to daze Carbajal at 2:55 of the round.

Both men were bloodied as the 12th and final round started, and Gonzalez opened it with another flurry that had Carbajal backpedaling.

As the bell rang, both men lifted their arms in celebration.

“I have no excuses,” Carbajal said. “The judges said he won, what can I do? I don’t agree. I believe I landed more solid punches, I pressed the fight.”

Carbajal, who never flinched at giving Gonzalez a rematch after their first fight, said he expects one from Gonzalez.

“He better give me the rematch,” Carbajal said. “I want a rematch as soon as possible.”