World Champion Boxer Michael Carbajal still fights for Phoenix community
By Terrance Thornton | Digital Free Press
“From one Chicana to one Chicano, Se Se Puede!”
It was that statement Phoenix City Councilwoman Laura Pastor echoed prior to rendering her vote — one of nine in unison — to install ceremonial street signs at 9th and Filmore Streets to honor the community contributions of Michael Carbajal.
Ceremonial signage of “Michael Carbajal Way” will be flag mounted at the intersections of Ninth and Filmore streets as well as 10th and Fillmore, according to the March 20 approval at Phoenix City Council.
Phoenix City Councilwoman Kesha Hodge Washington offered comments regarding the ceremonial renaming of a portion of 9th Street in downtown Phoenix
“Among his many outstanding professional accomplishments, Mr. Carbajal is a six-time world champion who won a silver medal at the 1988 Seoul Olympics in South Korea was inducted into the international boxing Hall of Fame and operates the Michael Carbajal 9th Street gym just a few hundred yards from his childhood home,” Ms. Hodge Washington, who represents District 8 where the ceremonial signs will appear in coming weeks
“Mr. Carbajal is doing his part to contribute to the next generation of Phoenix boxers, the Latino community and the worldwide boxing community all of these accomplishments point to the living legend we have living in our midst.”
Mr. Carbajal owns Michael Carbajal’s 9th Street Gym, where City Hall officials say is a place where Phoenix youth gather to learn, work out, socialize with friends, and keep productive.
The ceremonial signs will be flag mounted with costs covered by the Camunez Family Trust, City Hall officials say.