Boxing In Mexico: Mijares vs. Munoz In Super Flyweight Unification Clash

ByBoxing Press

WBC champion Cristian Mijares and WBA title-holder Alexander “El Explosivio” Munoz will fight May 17 in the first super flyweight unification title bout in more than 10 years, headlining the “Noche de Campeons” pay-per-view event live from the Auditorio Centenario in Gomez Palacio, Durango, Mexico.

The 12-round co-feature pits Mexican warriors Omar Salado and Julio Cesar “Pingo” Miranda in a WBC flyweight elimination bout.

“A worldwide show like this has never happened in Mexican boxing history,” promoter Nacho Huizar said. “The main event is going to be a war. Mijares is a great fighter; a technician who is very dangerous, too. Munoz is a big puncher. It’s going to be a classic fight.”

Mijares, 34-3-2 (14), who has been boxing professionally since 1997, captured the WBC Interim title on September 18, 2006 by 12-round split decision via scores of 114-113, 114-113 and 113-114 against Katsushige Kawashima, 30-4, in Japan.

The crafty Mexican southpaw successfully defended his WBC Interim belt the following November in Mexico, winning a 12-round unanimous decision, 118-109, 117-110 and 116-111, versus Reynaldo Lopez, 28-3-2, and won his rematch for the WBC outright championship on January 3, 2007, stopping Kawashima, 30-5, in the 10th round.

Mijares burst upon the global scene a year ago with an impressive, one-sided victory by unanimous 12-round decision, 119-109, 118-110 and 117-111, on PPV against popular, colorful Jorge “Travieso” Arce, 46-4-1 (35) in San Antonio. “I didn’t doubt that I’d beat Arce,” Cristian noted, “but I didn’t think it would be that easy. I’d like to unify the super flyweight titles and then look to the bantamweight and super bantamweight divisions, maybe against Wladimir Sidorenko or Jhonny Gonzalez.”

Currently riding a 24-fight unbeaten streak with 23 wins and one draw, Mijares attributes his success to a combination of a winning attitude, preparation and maximum sacrifice. Now one of the most popular and exciting all-around boxers in the world, Mijares has made four successful title defenses since defeating Arce against, in order, Terrei Kikui, 21-5, by 10th round TKO, Frank Gorrjux, 16-7, in the opening round, and Jose Navarro, 26-3, via a 12-round decision on February 16 in Las Vegas.

Venezuela-native Munoz, 32-2 (27), is a 2-time WBA super flyweight champion, first winning the coveted belt in 2002 with an eighth-round stoppage of Celes Kobayasho. Munoz made three winning title defenses against Eiji Kojima twice, KO2 and TKO10, sandwiched around a 12-round decision versus Hidenobu Honda, 26-2, before losing a 12-round decision and his title belt to Martin Castillo, 26-1, in 2004. Munoz won the WBA Fedelatin super flyweight crown in a WBA title eliminator, but Castillo won their 2006 rematch by 12-round split decision.

Munoz regained his WBA super flyweight title on May 3, 2007, taking a dominating 12-round decision from Nabuo Mashiro, 9-0, in Japan. In a pair of title defenses, “El Explosivo” retained hos belt with 12-round decisions against, respectively, Kuniyuki Aizawa,13-1-1, and Katsushige Kawasjima, 32-6, this past January in Japan.

Unbeaten former WBA Fedelatin super fIyweight champion Salado, 19-0-2 (11), fought a 12-round draw with Ulises Solis, 22-1-1, for the IBF light flyweight title in 2006. Salado is rated No. 6 by the WBC and The Ring, as well as No. 11 by the WBA. Miranda, 25-3-1 (18), is ranked No. 3 by the WBC.

Mexican middleweight champion Ruben “Cloroformo” Padilla, 15-2-1 (14), is scheduled to fight in one of two other 10-round PPV bouts against an opponent to be determined.

Slated to fight on the live undercard are other Mexican boxers such as undefeated super lightweight Antonio “Canitas” Lozado, Jr., 14-0 (14), lightweight Ricardo “Camaleon” Mijares, 9-0 (8), and welterweight Ivan “El Ruso” Pereyra, 1-0 (1). All bouts and fighters are subject to change.

“Noche de Campeones,” promoted by KO Entertainment in association with DiBella Entertainment, will be produced and distributed by Integrated Sports for live viewing in the United States starting at 9 PM/ET on both cable and satellite pay-per-view via iN Demand, TVN, DirecTV and DISH Network, as well as on The Fight Network in Canada, for a suggested retail price of only $29.95.