[Crimson]

Saturday, September 26th, 1992
Madison Square Garden; New York, NY
Michael “Manitas de Piedra” Carbajal 27-0-1 (14) Arizona IBF
Myung-Woo Yuh 38-1-1 (14) Korea WBO
Last night in California, Humberto Gonzalez unified the WBC and WBA world titles. Tonight in New York, Arizona’s Michael Carbajal will attempt to do the same vs. the fighter regarded as perhaps the greatest Light Fly Weight of all time, Myung-Woo Yuh. The winner will face Humberto Gonzalez for the LIGHT FLY WEIGHT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP in the divisions 2nd Super Fight. Tonight is the division’s first!

There was plenty of back and forth negotiating between the two fighter camps to determine this fights location. Each fighter could have sold out any venue in their respective home area. However, neither wanted to travel to the other's backyard, when there was plenty of money to be made in their own. Madison Square Garden was selectd, based on being the most neutral site that would also generate lots of money. Yuh had plenty of Korean fans living in New York City who would make the trip to the Garden. Carbajal's popularity as an Olympic Gold Medalist guaranteed fans would pay and cheer for him regardless of where he fought in the United States.

Madison Square Garden was completely sold out on fight night, with 22,332 in attendance. Carbajal was a very slight betting favorite at 3-2 odds. Both fighters reportedly had excellent training camps and made the weight without difficulty.

ROUND 1: A good round for the Korean dynamo, as he got off to a quick start throwing and landing punches from all angles. Not known as a slow starter, Carbajal was slow to get his punches off.

ROUND 2: Carbajal took the fight to the inside and had all of his pistons firing. Yuh was hurt by a body blow towards the rounds end and the MSG crowd was on their feet as Carbajal let loose with several bombs shortly before the bell.

ROUND 3: Yuh came back with a vengeance in the 3rd and by the middle of the round Carbajal was pawing at his left eye, which had begun to swell (4).

ROUND 4: Both fighters were struggling to land in the 4th, when with 17 seconds remaining a big Carbajal left hook got through. At first Yuh seemed to take it, but then in a delayed reaction fell to his knees! The crowd was on their feet as referee Arthur Mercante Sr. ushered Carbajal to neutral corner. Yuh was standing before the count reached 4.

ROUND 5: Carbajal patiently took his time to start the 5th, but make no mistake about it….he was looking to finish what he had started in the 4th. With about 2:00 minutes remaining in the round Carbajal got through with a hard combination to Yuh’s body that caused the Korean to instantly attempt to hold Carbajal. The IBF title holder shrugged Yuh off and blasted a hook to Yuh’s head, which sent his mouthpiece flying! Then “Manitas de Piedra” went right back to the body and Yuh crumbled to the canvas laying on his side! Yuh waited until the count reached “8” before rising. Carbajal jumped right on Yuh throwing punches to his body and head. Yuh rolled with most of them along the ropes, moving as best he could away from the Carbajal attack. Somehow he made it to the bell.

ROUND 6: Yuh was still badly hurt when he came out for the 6th. Carbajal came out intent to score the knockout and was a bit reckless in the process. Yuh still had enough wits about him to counter the Carbajal misses with stiff jabs that caused further damage to his swollen left eye (5). With 30 second left in the round Carbajal again hurt Yuh to the body.

ROUND 7: The fast tiring Yuh, did well in the 7th as he slipped and countered the onrushing Carbajal, who was showing little to no respect for Yuh’s power. Yuh may have won the round, but aside from Carbajal’s swollen left eye, looked much the worse for wear heading back to his corner.

ROUND 8: Heading into the 8th, Ringside Expert Andreas Raht, had Carbajal in front 67-64. Punch stat favored Yuh 210-163. The power punches though favored Carbajal 101 to 61. The body assault of Carbajal was relentless and with 0:56 seconds left in the round, Yuh was on the canvas for the 3rd time in the fight. Up at 7, Yuh’s hands were by his side. Carbajal then sent his attack upstairs. After several more blows, Yuh dropped to the canvas for the fight’s 4th knockdown. He was up quickly, but Arthur Mercante Sr. wisely called a halt to the fight.

Michael Carbajal TKO8 Myung-Woo Yuh (Carbajal defends the IBF title and wins the WBO title)