Top 5 Light Flyweight rankings

Jung Koo Chang
Chang was a relentless pressure fighter from Korea who made a staggering 15 title defenses of his WBC Light Flyweight title from 1983 to 1989. In addition to the amazing numbers on Chang was his formidable resume. At an early age he failed to dethrone the great champion Hilario Zapata but would not only beat the same man in a return bout, but destroy him in 3 rounds. Chang never unified the titles, but he faced 7 titlists, beating the likes of Zapata, Torres, and in-experienced Chitalada. Came painfully close to recapturing the crown against respected Kittikasem.

Hilario Zapata
Hilario Zapata rates highly purely on his well worked victory over Jung Koo Chang in there first meeting, but was also a two time champion at the weight making 8 title defenses between 1980 and 1982. Faced 9 Titlists at Light Flyweight, holding wins over the likes of Jung Koo Chang, German Torres, and Penalosa. Never unified the titles, but faced very good opposition and made plenty of title defenses.

In my judgment, the two fighters above are interchangeable at 1st and 2nd in the rankings. They both faced better opposition than anyone else, whilst Chang made 15 title defenses to Zapata's 10, who managed to recapture the crown after losing it. General consensus is that Chang belongs at the top, and there's no arguments from me on that issue.

Michael Carbajal
Michael was not brought up easily at all. He faced and defeated future champion Wil grigsby in his professional debut, and that set the trend for the rest of his career. Carbajal faced more titlists/champions than any other, a total of 10. A five time champion at the weight, Carbajal took losses and rebounded. Holds wins over Humberto Gonzalez, Wil Grigsby, Kittikasem, and stopped a young Jorge Arce in his last ever professional fight in a bout he was losing handily. Unified the WBC and IBF titles in 1993's fight of the year.

Myung-Woo Yuh
There's been a few criticisms of Myung-Woo Yuh since his retirement in 1993. His competition was maybe the weakest among all of the canidates mentioned, and even then he made hard work of some of them. Olivo arguably beat him in his first world title bout, and both Gamez and DeJesus ran him close during his history-making title reign. That being said, Myung-Woo Yuh achieved a record 17 title defenses at the weight, and regained the title after losing it to Ioka in Japan. In defense of Yuh, both Gamez and De Jesus would become world champions after fighting him, racking up some respectable defenses themselves.

Yoko Gushiken
There's a danger of selling Gusiken short here, I've seen limited footage of him. I only own his knockout over Lopez on DVD, and seen what is on youtube. My take is that Gushiken deserves a lot of credit for racking up a very impressive 13 title defenses, but his competition was hardly more impressive than that of Yuh, who at least rebounded from defeat to regain the title. Yoko lost his first professional bout and never fought another fight again. There have been rumors that Yoko poisoned his opposition, but none of it is proven, and does not effect my ranking. Faced the least amount of titlists of any of the other candidates on show.

Humberto Gonzalez isn't in my top 5, and you're probably wondering why when he was able to defeat Carbajal, my third choice, both times in rematches. Gonzalez made tough work out of a lot of his title defenses, against the same men that Carbajal fought but beat easier. Sosa, Kim, Woo-Lee all came very close to beating him at his peak, and he was destroyed by hard punching Pascua during his peak. Made a lot of defenses, and unified, but was inconsistent with performances. He could conceivably slot in at 4 depending on your criteria.

1. Jung Koo Chang
2. Hilario Zapata
3. Michael Carbajal
4. Myung-Woo Yuh
5. Yoko Gushiken

What's your list?

 

I don't see why Michael Carbajal isn't recognised as a top 5 lock, personally. He beat Gonzalez in impressive fashion when both were at their best. He beat more titlists than anyone else on the list, was a 5-time champion at the weight, and unified both the WBC and IBF titles. Jorge Arce is a top 10 Light Flyweight of all time in my estimation, and Carbajal knocked him out when he was practically shot with nothing but a puncher's chance. The hardest hitting Light Flyweight of all time in my judgement, has the resume and the achievements to make himself an argument for third spot and he slots in there for me. I tend to go along with the notion that on a head to head basis, Carbajal doesn't fair to well, but if we're rating these guys on resume and accomplishments then he has to be in there in my opinion.

Why is Yoko Gushiken ahead of him, for example? Who faced and beat better opposition, who rebounded from defeat to regain the title at age 32? Who was a 5 time world champion at the weight, who faced the most titlists at 108lbs?

 

Michael Carbajal seperated himself from Humberto Gonzalez when he regained the title at age 32 with a win over Jorge Arce, who would probably come in at around 8 or 9 on a Top 10 Light Flyweight list. Carbajal knocked out Gonzalez, the most conclusive victory of the trilogy, when the two combatants were at there best and let's not forget that the rematches were closely contested affairs. Debatable decision even, with the rubber match taking place in Mexico City. Majority decision if I remember correctly. I also take into account that Carbajal destroyed Sosa in 4, and Kwang Sun Kim in 7 when Gonzalez was taken to a decision by Sosa, and would have lost to Kim if he hadn't scored the dramatic stoppage in the 12th and final round. Getting knocked out by Pascua during your peak years doesn't look good on the resume either. All in all Carbajal has the better resume, and slightly better achievements on his side whilst dealing with common opponents more efficiently.

 

Same point in time? Don't think so, Drew. Gonzalez was knocked out, destroyed, by Pascua three years prior to his first fight with Carbajal. He was very much in peak form physically in 1990, and Pascua would be disposed of by Castro in his first title defense. Carbajal, in stark contrast, was beaten on points by Pastrana, 4 years after the 1993 fight of the year, when Michael had clearly slipped. That was 2 years before he retired, and the Matala defeat came even later, but Baby Jake was a good fighter who probably come in at around 6-7 on a top 10 Light Flyweight list.

In conclusion, Gonzalez was destroyed by Pascau when he was at optimal physical performance, Carbajal took his decision losses after his prime, close to his retirement stage. Big difference, and Arce would still go on to recapture the title and then move up and win titles as high as Super Flyweight. Whereas Pascua never won another world title fight in his life, at least Pastrana and Baby Jake did.

 

Care to elaborate, Whatarock?

 

Gushiken did not have a great resume, it's actually probably less accomplished than that of Myung Woo Yuh. It's not just speculation.

I personally think if we're all ranking the fighters on resume and accomplishments, Michael Carbajal has to be in there. I realise that he is a more modern fighter than the rest of the pack, and I am of the belief that the Classic frown upon younger combatants, but his record speaks for itself. His resume is much more accomplished than Gushiken and Yuh, and winning back the title at 32 years of age against a top 10 Light Flyweight at his peak is an accomplishment that often gets overlooked. Basically we overrate Gushiken and underrate Carbajal, IMO.

 

I am indeed Addie, but I don't quite know why you had to add the, "I get it now"? What are your thoughts on the thread topic, that'd also be greatly appreciated seeing as you made the effort to entertain us with a post.