Munoz ready for Mijares

Interview by Edgar Gonzales

Current WBA Super Flyweight champ Alexander Munoz steps up to a tough challenge when he faces WBC titleholder Cristian Mijares this upcoming Saturday night in a rare unification bout. Munoz, hardly known in the U.S., is a veteran of 43 fights, with 32 wins and only two losses—with 27 ending within the distance. Hugely popular in Japan, Munoz will find himself deep in Mijares’ home country of Mexico to take part in this highly-anticipated championship bout.

Just a few days before his showdown, Munoz spoke with Fightnews about his plans for Mijares, his popularity in Japan and why he feels he should only have one loss on his ledger.

Fightnews (FN): If you win you will have two titles, how important is this fight for you and do you feel pressured?

Alexander Munoz (AM): Yes, this is a very important fight for me and I will be the best 115-pounder in my weight class with two belts.

FN: What was so different about Martin Castillo or what about his style was so different from everyone else? Castillo was the only one who could beat you.

AM: The first fight I wasn’t 100% prepared, and, in the second fight, I think I was robbed. But I demonstrated I was the true champ. At the end, the referee raised his hand and there was nothing I could do about it.

FN: Did you know Castillo retired? And how do you feel about not being able to fight the one person who beat you?

AM: No, I didn’t. He beat me the first time. The second? Well, we won.

FN: every one knows you’re a harder hitter than Mijares, but with your one common opponent, Katsushige Kawashima, Mijares was able to stop him in the 10^th round and you beat him a unanimous decision. Why you think that was?

AM: He was boxing with Mijares. If Kawashima would’ve boxed me I would have knocked him out.

FN: Did you see Mijares fight Jorge Arce?

AM: Arce was looking for a knockout and he wasn’t focused. He was wide open.

FN: Mijares is considered to be one of the best technical boxers in boxing, what are you going to do against him? Pressure him? Try to out box him?

AM: If he wants to brawl, then I think I will knock him out.

FN: You fought 7 times in Japan, why is that? Do they treat you right?

AM: They like my style. They keep offering me fights, which I can’t turn down.

FN: Did you train for this fight as any other, or did you work on specific techniques for Mijares?

AM: Well, as you know, I changed trainers, and I did change some techniques.