THE RING magazine features a thumbnail biography of a ring great who has received the ultimate honor: induction into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in Canastota, N.Y.

HUMBERTO GONZALEZ

Birthdate: March 25, 1966
Birthplace: Nezahualcoyoti, Mexico
Nickname: Chiquita
Weight class: Junior flyweight
Professional record: 43-3 (31 knockouts)
Titles held: WBC light flyweight (June 25, 1989-Dec. 19, 1990; June 3, 1991-March 13, 1993; Feb. 19, 1994-July 15, 1995), IBF light flyweight (Feb. 19, 1994-July 15, 1995).
Best performances: Michael Carbajal (W 12, W 12), Jung Koo Chang (W 12), Yul Woo Lee (W 12), Francisco Tejedor (KO 3), Jesus Zuniga (KO 5), Juan Domingo Cordoba (KO 8), Domingo Sosa (W 12), Melchor Cobb Castro (W 12, W 12).
Year of IBHOF induction: 2006
Background: The 5-foot-1 son of a butcher had an unblemished 23-0 amateur career before turning pro on Sept. 4, 1984 ÔǪ Won Mexican junior flyweight title in 1988 ÔǪ Traveled to South Korea to capture the WBC 108-pound belt from Yul Woo Lee in June ’89 ÔǪ Tallied five successful defenses before losing title and unbeaten status (after 30 straight wins) to Rolando Pascua, who knocked him out in December 1990 … Regained WBC title from Melchor Cobb Castro, who had subsequently taken the belt from Pascua in June ’91 ÔǪ Four more successful defenses followed prior to losing title in sensational give-and-take war with Michael Carbajal in March 1993. It was the first million-dollar junior flyweight bout in history ÔǪ Regained WBC title and IBF belt in February ’94 rematch with Carbajal ÔǪ Tallied three more successful title defense, including a rubber match with Carbajal, before losing both belts to Saman Sorjaturong in July ’95 ÔǪ Known as an aggressive, pressure fighter with a big punch throughout most of his career, but surprised many by turning cutie to outbox Carbajal in their second and third fights ÔǪ Although he didn’t fight in the U.S. until 1990, he soon became a fan favorite on both sides of the border, headlining 10 times at the Forum in Inglewood, Calif. ÔǪ Ironically, two of his three pro losses were selected as THE RING’s Fight of the Year, his first fight with Carbajal and his final bout, the loss to Sorjaturong. In both bouts, he had his foes on the floor before they rallied back to win in thrilling slugfests ÔǪ Became a successful businessman after retiring from the ring, opening three meat markets in Mexico … Selected by THE RING in 2003 as one of the 100 greatest punchers of all time, coming in at No. 81.