Styles make fights and the May 17
unification title bout between WBC champion Cristian Mijares
and WBA title-holder Alexander “El Explosivo” Muñoz has all
the makings of an instant classic.
The 12-round Mijares-Muñoz 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.
“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.
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 KOs) is a pure boxer
with tremendous defensive boxing skills, while Muñoz (32-2, 27
KOs) rates as a feared knockout specialist. Mijares captured
the WBC Interim title on September 18, 2006 by 12-round split
decision (114-113, 114-113, 113-114) against Katsushige
Kawashima (30-4) in Japan. The slick Mexican southpaw
successfully defended his WBC Interim belt the following
November in Mexico, winning a 12-round unanimous decision
(118-109, 117-110, 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, 117-11) on PPV versus colorful
Jorge “Travieso” Arce (46-4-1, 35 KOs) 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 Muñoz is a 2-time WBA
super flyweight champion, originally winning his title belt in
2002 with an eighth-round stoppage of Celes Kobayasho. Muñoz
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. Muñoz won the
WBA Fedelatin super flyweight crown in a WBA title eliminator,
but Castillo won their 2006 rematch by 12-round split decision.
Muñoz 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.
“Muñoz 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 KOs) 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 KOs) is ranked
No. 3 by the WBC.
Unbeaten Japanese Koki Kameda (17-0, 11
KOs), 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 KOs) and Arturo Mijares (5-1, 4 KOs), and welterweight
Ivan “El Ruso” Pereyra (1-0, 1 KO). All bouts and fighters are
subject to change.