BOXING : Gonzalez Defeats Diaz by Technical Knockout

Five months after his greatest victory, Humberto (Chiquita) Gonzalez returned to the Forum ring Friday night radiating confidence, paving the way for a potential $1-million payday this October.

Gonzalez, possessor of two-thirds of the major light-flyweight titles, scored a technical knockout over Armando Diaz before 3,443, the fight being stopped after three rounds when Diaz was discovered to have suffered a broken nose.

Last November, it took Gonzalez 10 rounds, and more than 1,000 punches, to defeat Diaz. This time, Gonzalez knocked Diaz (22-17) down with a left-right flurry to an already-bloody nose late in the third that all but ended the bout.

Before the fourth could begin, ringside physician Adam Karns examined Diaz and recommended that referee Pat Russell stop the bout.

“It wasn’t harder or easier than the last time,” Gonzalez said. “I was just able to take him out quicker.”

In the past few days, negotiations have heated up to stage a third bout with former champion Michael Carbajal, who lost his International Boxing Federation and World Boxing Council titles to Gonzalez last February at the Forum.

In 1993, Carbajal knocked out Gonzalez.

After Friday’s fight, Gonzalez (39-2, 27 knockouts) said that he is prepared to take on Carbajal again whenever Carbajal wants--as long as Gonzalez is paid $1 million for the third match, the same amount Carbajal made for the first rematch.

Carbajal is scheduled to fight July 15 for the World Boxing Organization championship.

Rafael Mendoza, Gonzalez’s adviser, said an agreement might be finished by early next week.