PHOENIX — World boxing champion Michael Carbajal will soon have a street named after him in his hometown.
The Phoenix City Council voted Wednesday to install ceremonial street name signage recognizing Carbajal at the intersection of 9th and Fillmore streets, as well at 10th and Fillmore streets.
Carbajal, who is from Phoenix and now owns the 9th Street Gym, has won multiple boxing championships and a silver medal at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul. He's been inducted into the Arizona Sports Hall of Fame and the International Boxing Hall of Fame.
During Wednesday's council meeting, several residents spoke about the positive impact Carbajal has had on the local community and the next generation of aspiring boxers.
"Michael Carbajal is a leader in his community, where he gives back by providing a safe space for youth and individuals of all ages," city records state.
UP TO SPEED
What is the Valley?:
“The Valley” is what locals call the Phoenix Metropolitan Area. It is considered the largest metropolitan area in the Southwest.
The Valley is made up of various major cities other than Phoenix, including:
- Mesa
- Chandler
- Scottsdale
- Tempe
- Glendale
- Surprise
- Peoria
- Gilbert
- El Mirage
- Avondale
- Litchfield Park
- Goodyear
- Buckeye
Whether a city is in the “East Valley” or “West Valley” depends on where it is in relation to Phoenix.
The cities of the Valley have a combined population of 4,845,832 people, according to the 2020 United States Census. This makes it the 11th largest metropolitan area in the country right behind the Boston and Atlanta areas.
How big is Maricopa County?
Maricopa County is the United States’ 4th largest county in terms of population with 4,485,414 people, according to the 2020 Census.
The county contains around 63% of Arizona’s population and is 9,224 square miles. That makes the county larger than seven U.S. states (Rhode Island, Delaware, Connecticut, Hawaii, New Jersey, Massachusetts and New Hampshire).
One of the largest park systems in the nation is also located in Maricopa County. The county has an estimated 120,000 acres of open space parks that includes hundreds of miles of trails, nature centers and campgrounds.
The county’s seat is located in Phoenix, which is also the state capital and the census-designated 5th most populous city in the United States.
The county was named after the Maricopa, or Piipaash, Native American Tribe.