Boxing In Mexico: Mijares vs. Munoz World Title Unification Bout May 17 In Durango

Styles make fights and the May 17 unification title bout between WBC champion Cristian Mijares and WBA title holder Alexander “El Explosivio” Munoz has all the makings of an instant classic.

The 12 round Mijares-Munoz main event, marking the first super flyweight unification title bout in more than 10 years, headlines the “Noche de Campeones” pay-per-view event live from the Auditorio Centenario in Gomez Palacio, Durango, Mexico.

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

“Unifying the super flyweight title is one of my first goals to be recognized as the best in my weight class,” Mijares said. “I’ve always desired to fight on a pay-per-view show and now it’s real. At the same time it is a big responsibility because so many boxing fans are going to be watching my performance. It’s an honor to fight before my people and I know millions of Mexicans will be watching me live on television.”

Mijares, 34-3-2 (14), is a pure boxer with tremendous defensive boxing skills, while Munoz, 32-2 (27), rates as a feared knockout specialist. Mijares 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 in Japan.

The slick Mexican southpaw successfully defended his WBC Interim belt the following November in Mexico, winning a 12-round unanimous decision by scores of 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 versus colorful Jorge “Travieso” Arce, 46-4-1 (35), in San Antonio.

Currently riding a 24-fight unbeaten streak with 23 wins and one draw, 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 is a 2-time WBA super flyweight champion, originally winning his title 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 his belt with 12 round decisions against, respectively, Kuniyuki Aizawa, 13-1-1, and Katsushige Kawasjima, 32-6, this past January in Japan.

“Munoz is a dreaded knockout fighter and that’s why he’s a 2-time world champion,” Mijares noted. “All fights are different and I prepare myself 100-percent. I believe in my ability and also put myself in the hands of God.

“I believe it’s going to be a classic fight between a fighter and a puncher; a very tough, hard fight. I’m not looking ahead of this fight, but I’d like two or three more fights at this weight and then look at fighting for another world title at a higher weight.”

Undefeated 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. 4 by the WBC, No. 6 by The Ring, and No. 8 by the WBA. Miranda, 25-3-1 (18), is ranked No. 3 by the WBC.

Unbeaten Japanese Koki Kameda, 17-0 (11), former WBA light flyweight title-holder and current WBA No. 1 flyweight contender, is scheduled to fight in a 10-round PPV bout against an opponent to be determined. Kameda is also ranked No. 2 by the WBC, No. 9 by the WBO and The Ring.

Also scheduled to fight on the live undercard are other tough Mexican boxers such as middleweight Martin “Azteca” Avila against Alberto Hernandez in a 10-round match-up, as well as lightweights Ricardo “Camaleon” Mijares, 9-0 (8), and Arturo Mijares, 5-1 (4), 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 (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.