Cristian Mijares vs Katsushige Kawashima

On January 3, 2007, at the Ariake Colosseum in Tokyo, Japan, Cristian Mijares defended his newly elevated WBC World Super-Flyweight title against Katsushige Kawashima in their rematch. Four months earlier, Mijares had narrowly edged Kawashima by a split decision to claim the interim belt. With Masamori Tokuyama vacating the full title to move up in weight, this bout marked Mijares’s first defence as the recognized champion.

Both fighters weighed in at the 115-pound limit, with Mijares entering the contest with a record of 29-3-2 and Kawashima boasting 30 wins and five losses. The bout was a tactical affair in the early rounds, as Mijares used his superior movement and southpaw jab to maintain distance. While fighting on home soil, Kawashima looked to pressure Mijares, throwing looping punches and attempting to cut off the ring. However, the Mexican champion’s defensive skills and counterpunching repeatedly frustrated the Japanese challenger.

The judges’ scorecards reflected a competitive bout heading into the later rounds. Malcolm Bulner scored it closely at 86-85, Max DeLuca saw it 87-84, and Chuck Hassett had a wider margin at 89-82 in favour of Mijares. These scores underscored the effectiveness of Mijares’s clean punching and ring generalship.

The decisive moment came in the 10th round when Mijares trapped Kawashima in the corner. Sensing an opportunity, Mijares unleashed a sustained barrage of punches that left Kawashima unable to respond effectively. Referee Mike Ortega stepped in at 1:36 of the round, calling a halt to the contest and awarding Mijares the victory by technical knockout.

This win solidified Mijares’s status as a legitimate world champion and showcased his blend of defensive mastery and offensive sharpness. Despite his valiant effort, Kawashima was unable to find an answer to Mijares’s precision and composure in their second meeting.

The event also featured a co-main event where Edwin Valero demonstrated his explosive power, knocking out Michael Lozada in just 72 seconds to retain his WBA World Super Featherweight title. While Valero’s dominance grabbed headlines, Mijares’s performance reinforced his reputation as one of the super-flyweight division’s most skilled and intelligent fighters.