SecondsOut Team Pick Mijares vs. Darchinyan

A super fight in one of the smaller weight classes with the tough, skilled boxer against the aggressive power puncher, but that hasn’t stopped SecondsOut’s team of fearless writers from making their confident picks for Saturday’s WBC/WBA/IBF super flyweight world title boxing match between Cristian Mijares and Vic Darchinyan at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California, televised in the USA on Showtime Championship Boxing.

“This is a great fight between a classy boxer and big puncher. There is always a chance that Darchinyan will land a massive punch and end the fight early but I feel Mirares is approaching his prime will just be too quick and skilful for Darchinyan on the night. Mijares W.UD.12.”
- Clive Bernath, Editor In Chief

“Two-time world champion and reigning IBF super flyweight champion Darchinyan is one of boxing’s best kept secrets for excitement and one of the lower weight classes’ best punchers. The transplanted Armenia from Australia will need to land his Sunday punch to beat WBA/WBC champion Mijares, but that’s not likely. The Mexican is simply the better fighter in every facet. Mijares wins by unanimous decision. Mijares W.UD.12.”
- Gregory Juckett, Content Editor

“Many experts seem to be placing a lot of doubt on Darchinyan simply on his split second knockout punch loss to Nonito Donaire. Don’t forget about his dominating wins over Dimitri Kirilov, Glenn Donaire, Luis Maldonado (who drew with Mijares), Irene Pacheco and Alejandro Montiel. Mijares should be favourite going into this fight, but Darchinyan’s aggressive nature and punching power has been irresistible on all occasions bar one. One of the reasons why the Showtime television network has taken such a liking to the Raging Bull from Armenia and Australia. Mijares’ skills and toughness should give Darchinyan some problems, but if Vic detonates one of his power shots, the Mexican will need to be strong to resist the KO. Darchinyan wins a close points decision. Darchinyan W.12.”
- Paul Upham, Content Editor

“This is a classic case of the great boxer against the thunderous puncher. I see Mijares out-boxing Darchinyan and winning the first half of the fight with his terrific boxing ability. If Darchinyan can land a decent volume of harder and well placed punches throughout that period, however, you may see a weather-worn Mijares hanging on towards the end. Mijares W.12.”
- Michael Norby

“Darchinyan has a puncher’s chance against anyone, but I favour the extra guile of Mijares to prevail on the judges’ scorecards after twelve absorbing rounds. Mijares W.UD.12.”
- Mark Butcher, Founding Editor

“It’s Mijares’ smooth skill against the unorthodox Darchinyan. Both have something to win with but Mijares looked so good against Arce that I see him taking a well deserved decision. Mijares W.12.”
- Jerry Glick

“Another big move for Mijares in his quest for glory and recognition. In Darchinyan he will have a dangerous opponent and may have to go trough some anxious moments. But his defense and footwork will make a clear difference. Mijares W.UD.12.”
- Juan Pablo Manfredi

“Mijares, one of the top pure boxers in the sport, uses the kinds of subtle moves that are genuinely deserving of being called the sweet science. But as we saw with Mosley vs. Mayorga, sometimes the most effective anecdote to purity and skill is awkwardness and aggressiveness, two things Darchinyan brings to the ring in spades. I think Darchinyan, who’s as worthy of the nickname Angry Crab as he is Raging Bull, will have a lot more successful rounds that many figure against the Pound for Pound candidate, forcing the champ to work hard en route to another solid but close victory. Mijares W.MD.12.”
- Sean Waisglass

“I have done a few of Darchinyan’s fights as a commentator, in fact I was at ringside when he first captured the title defeating Irene Pacheco. I noticed then his great strengths, his power and awkwardness, and his big weakness, his defense or lack there of. This was his undoing against Nonito Donaire and it will cause him to be beaten, maybe stopped, against Mijares, who is a much more solid opponent. Mijares to win.”
- James Smith, Host, IN THIS CORNER TV

“This is a real tough one to call, it’s what you like; the boxer or the puncher, and I think it’s Mijares with the superior boxing skills that comes out on top. I see Darchinyan coming on strong early, and if Mijares can see the first four rounds of pure assault off, it will be he who pulls away in the latter half of the fight. Mijares W.12.”
- Craig Phillips

“It’s nice to see Cristian Mijares get the recognition he deserves. I am now starting to see his name appear on more and more P4P lists across the web. A couple of his last fights were far from the split verdicts they were labelled as and, if he is successful against Vic Darchinyan, he should be considered the Fighter of the Year. The task of defeating Darchinyan is a lot taller than some fans care to admit. Mijares is a masterful boxer, but he can be hit and Vic can have some success as a determined southpaw. Now, we all know if Vic can land, then he has an excellent chance to win. Darchinyan looked absolutely menacing against Kirilov last time, so I think he’s regained some of his pre-Donaire composure. I like Mijares by closer than expected decision with a good possibility of a scare along the way. Mijares W.UD.12.”
- Derek Bonnett

“Mijares will continue to climb up the pound for pound lists by outboxing the Raging Bull. Mijares won’t be able to sneak up on Darchinyan, who is well aware that he dismantled Jorge Arce. That being said, Mijares will win a decision, even if he needs to beat a ten count in the process. Mijares W.UD.12.”
- Jason Pribila

“Vic Darchinyan has two things going for him in every fight: his punch and his ego. The combination likely defeats many fighters before they step in the ring. If Mijares is as good as we think he is, he should be able to circumvent both, leaving Darchinyan with little else to offer. This should result in a unanimous points decision win for Mijares. The scorecards will reflect the degree in which Mijares feels Darchinyan’s power. The more cautious Mijares needs to be, the closer the scorecards. Mijares W.UD.12.”
- John Lumpkin

“Cristian Mijares is one of the best boxers in the sport pound-for-pound in my opinion and he’s the natural 115 pounder in this fight. Darchinyan can certainly punch, but he’s wild-swinging and Mijares will take advantage of that from the opening bell. You have to say that Vic has that punchers chance but I don’t think this fight will be close. I see Mijares winning by a lopsided decision or possibly stopping Darchinyan late. Mijares W.12.”
- Matthew Hurley

“Mijares has a superior skill set and speed to the Armenian born Darchinyan, whose only hope is to land the big shot. Darchinyan can bang with the best of them and needs to keep Mijares in check with his free-swinging style. If Mijares can weather the storm, he will cruise to a points victory, using his excellent jab and footwork to box circles around the Australian. Mijares W.UD.12.”
- Michael Coppinger


Total:

CRISTIAN MIJARES = 14

VIC DARCHINYAN = 1