By Ian S Palmer
Wilfredo Vazquez Jr. of Puerto Rico returns to the ring for the first time since October, 2016 when he takes on Mexican veteran Cristian Mijares in a 10-round lightweight bout in Mexico this Saturday, June 16th. Vazquez was stopped in the 11th round by Juan Manuel Lopez in his last bout two years ago while Mijares last fought in March and beat Fernando David Saucedo by an eighth-round stoppage. Mijares is a former IBF, WBA and WBC Super Flyweight Champion while Vazquez is a former WBO Jr. Featherweight Champion. This is being billed as Mijares’ farewell outing.
The 36-year-old Mijares was once be considered one of the best pound-for-pound boxers on the planet several years ago, but most fans now consider him to be past his prime. However, he’s still on a 10-fight winning streak with his last loss being to Leo Santa Cruz in 2014 even though he may not be the same boxer he was a few years ago. Mijares enters the bout with a record of 59-8-2 along with 27 Kos. He’s got a solid chin as he’s been stopped just once, but isn’t a KO artist with a current knockout ratio of 39 per cent.
Mijares is a very skilled boxer though with plenty of experience as he’s fought 530 rounds since turning pro back in 1997. He’s taken on the cream of the crop in his weight divisions over the years with his losses coming to Santa Cruz, Victor Terrazas, Nehomar Cermeno (twice), Vic Darchinyan, Jose Alfredo Tirazo, Alejandro Sosa and Ricardo Espinoza. His two draws were with Espinoza and Luis Maldonado and Darchinyan was the only man to stop him which he did in the ninth round back in 2008.
On the plus side, Mijares has beaten opponents such as Katsushige Kawashima (twice), Reynaldo Lopez, Jorge Arce, Jose Navarro, Alexander Munoz, Chatchai Sasakul, Francisco Arce, Rafael Marquez, Andres Gutierrez, Jesus Arevalo and Shohei Kawashima. Since turning pro he’s also been a WBC Silver Featherweight, WBC International Silver Featherweight, WBC International Silver Super Bantamweight, NABF Bantamweight, WBA Fedelatin Super Flyweight, and Mexican Super Flyweight Champion.
Mijares is a southpaw who stands 5-feet-6-inches tall with a reach of 68 inches. He’s gone 9-3 with 4 Kos in World Title fights with a mark of 9-5 with 3 Kos against former or current world champions. He’ll be facing the 33-year-old Vasquez who enters the ring at 24-7-1 along with 19 Kos. However, Vasquez has lost three in a row and seven of his last nine bouts. His last knockout win came in 2012 when he stopped Jonathan Oquendo in the seventh round.
Vazquez has been stopped twice, by Lopez and also by Jorge Arce in the 12th round back in 2011. Vazquez stepped up in class against Lopez, Arce and also Nonito Donaire in 2012, but lost a 12-round split decision to the Filipino. Vazquez won the vacant WBO Junior Featherweight title with a win over Marvin Sonsona in 2010 and defended it twice over the next 15 months with a 10th-round KO over Zsolt Bedak and an 11th-round stoppage over Ivan Hernandez.
He then lost his title in the loss to Arce. Vazquez was beaten in a couple of attempts to regain the title, but finally managed to win it back in September of 2013 with a win over Guillermo Avila for the vacant belt. After that he vacated the title and moved up to featherweight. Vazquez enters the contest with 205 rounds under his belt after turning pro back in 2006. He stands just over 5-feet-5-inches tall with a reach of 66 inches. So gives up an inch in height and two inches in reach to Mijares.
Vazquez has pretty good power with a current knockout ratio of 59 per cent. He’s also been beaten by Sonsona, Fernando Vargas and Yasutaka Ishimoto. His biggest wins have been against Sonsona, Avilla and Jonathan Oquendo. Vazquez has never really been a Grade A boxer as he’s fought mainly Grade B opponents, but he’s durable and has a pretty solid chin.
Prediction…
Both boxers are past their prime, but this is still an interesting Mexico vs Puerto Rico matchup. Vazquez has the edge in power, but Mijares has the better boxing skills, chin and experience. The fight’s also in Mexico and Vasquez is coming off of a 20-month layoff. Also, Vazquez has just two wins and one knockout in his last nine fights. I’m looking for Mijares to win this bout, likely by a decision.
