FightHype's staff predictions are in for this weekend's intriguing matchup when Vic Darchinyan (30-1-1, 24 KOs) faces Cristian Mijares (35-3-2, 13 KOs) in a 115-pound world title unification showdown. Who will win? Who will lose? Get the answers to these questions and more in FightHype's staff predictions.

Ben "The Hype" Thompson - Mijares by Unanimous Decision
I'm expecting this one to look a lot like Mijares vs. Arce. I love Darchinyan's attitude and his fighting spirit, but his defense sucks balls. I already went out on a limb this month by picking a one-dimensional fighter over a slick boxer...I won't make that same mistake twice. Truth be told, given the fact that Darchinyan got stopped by Donaire at a lighter weight, I think there's a good chance that he could get stopped again. I'll give him the benefit of the doubt however and say Mijares just boxes his ears off for all twelve rounds. Mijares by lopsided unanimous decision.

Sean Malone - Mijares by Unanimous Decision
Mijares' boxing ability will be too much.

Joe DeMaria - Mijares by Unanimous Decision
Darchinyan will be working all night, but it won't be enough. Mijares will be tagging him, dodging him and just outboxing him. Vic will remain live because of his power and will, but in the end, the better fighter will have his hand raised. Mijares by unanimous decision in a good, entertaining scrap. Figure scores of 116-112 or so.

Charles Presnell - Mijares by Decision
Darchinyan's weakness is a well-rounded boxer like Mijares. I don't think Mijares has the punching power that Donaire has so I think this one's going the distance with Mijares winning a one-sided decision.

Steve Coleman - Mijares TKO9
Mijares should outbox Darchinyan rather easily. Darchinyan can punch, but he certainly can't box and has serious defensive flaws. Although Darchinyan is a completely different fighter than Pavlik, he is just as one-dimensional and I expect Vic to be stopped in about 9 rounds.

Simon Ruvalcaba - Mijares TKO11
After the devastating knockout, I think Vic needed more confidence builders before stepping up to the best of the division, a fighter with no lack of confidence himself. Timing and sharpness will be the differnece in this fight as Mijares starts out fast, withstands a middle round rally by Darchinyan and then finally wears him down and stops him late.

James Almonte - Darchinyan by KO

Nick Sanchez - Mijares by Split Decision

Ed Garza - Mijares by Decision

Joseph "falvoa" Falvo - Mijares by Decision
Mijares is a suberb jabber and mover, sort of like Juan Manuel Marquez as he showed against Jorge Arce. However, he is not unhittable as evidenced against his fight with  Jose Navarro. While the "Darch One" is a HEAVY hitter, he can be outboxed (and KO'd). My mind tells me that because Mijares can be hit and Darchinyan is a heavy hitter, eventually the Armenian will chisel down the Mexican, but I like Mijares, especially since he's been fighting top flight competition and making good fights. I'll go with my heart in this one. Mijares has got enough skills to outbox Darchinyan and enough grit to withstand Darchinyan's power to win a tough, but deserved decision.

John Tandy (Editor, www.ultimateboxingresults.com) - Mijares by Decision
A very interesting encounter as Darchinyan is the bigger puncher out of the two, but Mijares is well-known for having a steel jaw. Mijares is by far the better boxer and if this is taken to the cards, I would be very surprised to see any other hand raised than his. I feel the only chance Darchinyan has is to do the almost impossible and stop Mijares. He was a bully at flyweight, but although he has won since then, he has not looked as convincing up at super fly. He has not been able to bully his opponents nor has his power really carried up as well as he might have liked. It should be a great fight with plenty of twists and turns, but Mijares should have too much for Darchinyan.