By Cliff Rold

One of the best fighters in the world versus one of the most charismatic punchers in any division...for three-belt unification…at 115 lbs.  Two out of three ain’t bad in making a fight that can appeal beyond the hardcore Boxing fan base but the last of the components probably reserves it for ring fanatics.  It’s the rest of the world’s loss.  As Bill Simmons of ESPN noted a few years ago following Corrales-Castillo, the quality Boxing below Heavyweight has been the best kept secret in sports during the 00’s and Showtime’s main event this week is evidence in support.

These are the picks of the week.

Pick It: Cristian Mijares-Vic Darchinyan (Showtime, Saturday 9 PM EST/PST)

In most cases today, and every previous case, a fight that unified the WBC, WBA and IBF belts would result in an undisputed champion.  It’s a credit to WBO titlist Fernando Montiel that he’s established himself enough to leave the distinction heavily disputed until he’s in the ring with the winner.   That’s Sunday’s argument.  Saturday, slick WBC/WBA 115 lb. titlist Cristian Mijares (36-3-2, 15 KO) and banging IBF titlist Vic Darchinyan (30-1-1, 24 KO) do battle and it might be closer than some experts think.  Darchinyan was humbled in 2007 by Nonito Donaire, but bounced back off that fifth round dirt nap with strong and stronger performances against Z Gorres and a normally stout Dimitri Kirilov.  This fight has had its share of trash talk and says a lot about the theory of cream rising; men this small don’t get major network main events too often but their talent and style overcomes their ‘not big enough for this ride’ stature.  With a win, Mijares improves his position as a powerful potential heir to the very top of the Pound-for-pound race.  With the bulk of the lists made up of aging warriors, the 27-year old is only entering his prime and already highly regarded.  To get there, his skill will have to protect his chin from Darchinyan and then there will be Montiel.  First things first.  The undercard bout between 2004 U.S. Olympian Andre Dirrell and Victor Oganov could be a sleeper as well.  This is quality show-making at Showtime.

Pick If Affordable: Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.-Matt Vanda II (PPV, Saturday)

Times are tough and pay-TV expensive, but if you want a strong doubleheader of action, action being the operative word, this makes a solid twin bill with Showtime.  Chavez Jr. (37-0-1, 29 KO) might be suspect as a serious pro, but his first bout with Vanda (39-7, 22 KO) in July was not.  It was a fight of the year contender, a total brawl with enough crappy scoring to secure some hint of controversy.  There is no reason to suspect this time will be any less a brawl.  The undercard is one of the best on Pay-Per-View this year.  Jorge Arce-Isidro Garcia is an Arce fight, so expect blood.  The IBF Flyweight belt tilt between Nonito Donaire and Moruti Mthalane is even more than just that ingredient, a legitimate showdown of top ten Flyweights, both with speed and power.  This is an excellent night of Boxing for the discerning fan.

Classic Pick: All Mike, All Day (ESPN Classic, Saturday 1 PM EST/10 AM PST)

It’s not the first or last time they’ll do it, but Classic has a run of Mike Tyson’s best filling out the schedule on Saturday and there’s never a bad time to watch Mike when he mattered.  Boxing has fallen far from the public eye in the U.S. since his late 80’s run and today it’s unfathomable to think of a fighter adorning the cover of Life and Sport Illustrated at the same time.  Mike was the last man Boxing produced with such a shadow.  His fights inspired a sort of awe and while he may have once been overrated, he’s now probably underrated by too many.  His bouts with Larry Holmes, Michael Spinks and Trevor Berbick will be among the highlights, as will the Bob Sheridan call of Tyson-Douglas Classic uses.  It won’t have Ray Leonard’s classic, stammering call of “I…It’s over” but the in-ring action remains the same.  Many Boxing fans just entering middle age thank Mike for making them fans; go back and see why.

Back in seven.

Cliff Rold is a member of the Ring Magazine Ratings Advisory Panel and the Boxing Writers Association of America.  He can be reached at roldboxing@hotmail.com