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.

“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 Munoz (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 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 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.

Diaz Ready For Pac

World Boxing Council (WBC) lightweight champion DAVID DIAZ (34-1-1, 17 KOs), from Chicago, paid a media day visit to San Antonio yesterday, May 6, to talk up his title defense against WBC super featherweight champion and Filipino national treasure MANNY PACQUIAO (46-3-2, 34 KOs)..

After visiting The Alamo, the birthplace of Texas independence from Mexico, Diaz, whose family hails from Mexico, said: “Yesterday may have been Cinco de Mayo, but June 28 will be the sinking of Manny. His drive for five world titles will stall out when we meet in the ring in Las Vegas. I didn’t work this hard to win the title just to become another notch on Pacquiao’s belt. The Mexicutioner is about to become the Mexicutionee.”

The Pacquiao vs. Diaz world lightweight championship fight headlines “Lethal Combination,” the pay-per-view extravaganza which takes place Saturday, June 28 at Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. Promoted by Top Rank, in association with MP Promotions, the Pacquiao vs. Diaz pay-per-view telecast will be produced and distributed by HBO Pay-Per-View, beginning at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT.

Remaining tickets for Pacquiao vs.Diaz, priced at $600, $400, $300, $200 and $100, can be purchased at the Mandalay Bay box office and at all Las Vegas Ticketmaster locations (select Smith’s Food and Drug Centers, Macy’s West at the Fashion Show Mall, and Ritmo Latino). Ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (702) 474-4000 or Mandalay Bay (702) 632-7580. Tickets are also available for purchase at www.mandalaybay.com or www.ticketmaster.com.

Joel Julio: two-spot jump in the WBC rankings

Top jr. middleweight contender Joel Julio’s impressive April 30 victory over Ishe Smith earned him a two-spot jump in the WBC rankings, it was announced today by Main Events CEO Kathy Duva and All Star Boxing President Tuto Zabala. The Colombian bomber is now installed as the WBC’s #4 ranked contender and is looking for a showdown against any of the major sanctioning body champions..

“Ishe is a difficult opponent because he is so good defensively,” said Julio. “That is why I wanted to fight him. Now I want to get back in the ring and fight for a title as soon as possible.”

Julio (32-1, 29 KO’s) is also ranked #4 by the IBF, #6 by the WBA, and #8 by the WBO. The 23-year-old Monteria, Colombia native has stopped 21 opponents within the first three rounds. He has won his last five bouts, three by knockout. In 2005 Julio was named “Prospect of the Year” by several media outlets, including ESPN.com.