Vicente Mijares’ NABF Championship Run
On April 22, 1976, Vicente Mijares defeated Arturo Pineda by unanimous decision over twelve rounds in Los Angeles to win the vacant NABF lightweight championship. He subsequently challenged WBC champion Esteban de Jesús.
Vicente Mijares Saldivar was a Mexican lightweight contender from Gómez Palacio, Durango, who boxed professionally from 1974 to 1984. BoxRec lists his record as 30 wins, seven losses, one draw, and 12 knockouts, and describes him as a world-rated lightweight in the late 1970s. He is best remembered for winning the North American lightweight title and challenging WBC champion Esteban de Jesús.
On April 22, 1976, Vicente Mijares outpointed Arturo Pineda over twelve rounds in Los Angeles to win the vacant NABF lightweight championship, a major step in his rise toward world-title contention.
A contender from Gómez Palacio
Mijares came from Gómez Palacio, Durango, and rose through the professional lightweight ranks in the 1970s.
Winning the NABF lightweight title
On April 22, 1976, Mijares defeated Arturo Pineda by unanimous decision in Los Angeles to win the vacant North American Boxing Federation lightweight championship. BoxRec’s title history records two defenses during Mijares’s reign, which lasted until March 1978. In June 1976, he also earned a notable decision over Vilomar Fernández, then a highly ranked lightweight contender, according to Mexican newspaper El Siglo de Torreón.
A challenge for Esteban de Jesús
Mijares earned a world-title opportunity against WBC lightweight champion Esteban de Jesús on June 25, 1977, at Juan Ramón Loubriel Stadium in Bayamón, Puerto Rico. De Jesús retained his championship by stopping Mijares in the 11th round of their scheduled 15-round contest.
The end of his title run
Mijares remained active after the title challenge. On March 28, 1978, Andrew “Andy” Ganigan stopped him in the eighth round and took the NABF lightweight title. Mijares continued boxing into 1984, completing a decade-long professional career. BoxRec’s current profile lists 30 victories, 12 by knockout, alongside seven defeats and one draw.
Mijares’s record is a reminder that a boxer’s significance is not measured only by world championships. He earned a regional title, faced elite opposition in his era, and took a WBC champion into the later rounds. His documented career is part of the wider history of boxing and Mexican contenders who fought for opportunities abroad.
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Vicente Mijares, Arturo Pineda, Esteban de Jesús, NABF Lightweight
