By Cliff Rold

26-year old WBC/WBA titlist Cristian Mijares (35-3-2, 14 KO) has a potentially great fight lingering in his future.  He also has another pretty good one.  Both would be unification battles sure to garner strong attention amongst the Boxing press and plenty of speculation amongst dedicated fans.  Both would, with victory, strengthen what is now almost consensus recognition that the Mexican technician is one of Boxing’s best fighters at any weight. 

For now at least, neither Mijares’ great match with WBO titlist Fernando Montiel (37-2-1, 28 KO) or pretty good one with IBF titlist Vic Darchinyan (30-1-1, 24 KO) are immediately available.  Waiting for them to become so, Mijares fights on this Saturday in Mexico against a man whose name, for those who know it, still carries some weight even if his game probably doesn’t. 

There are good things to say about Mijares’ third opponent of 2008 after solid wins over top-tennish contender Jose Navarro and then-WBA titlist Alexander Munoz.  His opponent marks the fourth current or former titlist, and third former lineal World champion, on Mijares’ ledger since September 2006.  His opponent also rides the wave of a 12 fight winning streak and victory in 31 of his last 33 outings. 

What are the problems then? 

His opponent is 38-year old Chatchai Sasakul (64-3, 39 KO); none of those twelve wins were particularly impressive; and Sasakul’s reign as World (and WBC) Flyweight champion ended in its third defense nearly a decade ago. 

As noted, for those who know the name, it is not a bad one.  Sasakul is an important answer to two trivia questions for the hardcore fan. 

The first of those questions was formulated in 1997 during a rematch with then-reigning 112 lb. king Yuri Arbachakov of Russia.  Arbachakov is one of those quietly magnificent fighters whose size and locations hid him from full view in large swaths of the West.  An Amateur standout under the old Soviet system and a World Amateur champion in 1989, Arbachakov relocated to Japan and began a pro career in 1990.  In only his thirteenth bouts, he stopped Thailand’s Muangchai Kittikasem, defending ten times.  Number eleven was the only loss of his career and his farewell.

Sasakul then is the answer to “Who ended the career of Yuri Arbachakov?”

His second intersection with history came in December 1998, the last time he fought for or defended a significant title of any sort.  Ahead on points through seven rounds, a mammoth shot separated Sasakul from his title and senses in round eight, providing a developing legend his first milestone.

Sasakul is the answer to “Who did Manny Pacquiao beat for his first World title?”

There is every reason to believe he is one his way to being the answer to “Who did Mijares beat between unification bouts with Munoz and Montiel?”  That’s not all bad.  Most fighters, almost all of them, rarely have the luck to work their way into any sort of history win or lose.  Sasakul has two moments in his fighting life which will stand the test of time.  Given only one loss since the Pacquiao defeat, it is clear Sasakul can still handle himself in the ring without being a threat and he isn’t the first fighter in his position to get a shot like this.

When Evander Holyfield was looking for Mike Tyson in 1991, he killed time with Larry Holmes.  When Mike Tyson was looking for Michael Spinks in 1998…well, he fought Larry Holmes too.  Sasakul isn’t, in name or form, the same sort of foe as Holmes but it’s comparable to a Floyd Mayweather beating up Sharmba Mitchell while looking for Zab Judah.  These are just some more contemporary examples. 

Mijares is killing time with an old timer.

It’s a time honored tradition. 

It’s not necessarily a good one but it beats inactivity.  With no U.S. TV plans to pick up the show, the fight flies below the radar for most in much the same way Montiel’s last fight against the increasingly worn Luis Maldonado did earlier this summer.  He’ll get live fire; he’ll get rounds; he’ll get a step closer to great or pretty good. 

Team Mijares will forgive followers of the sensational 115 lb. class if they’re already waiting those few steps ahead. 

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