Julio Cesar Chavez, Marco Antonio Barrera and Erik Morales became heroes in Mexico because of their ability and willingness to mix it up with anybody inside the ring.

They never backed down from a challenge.

They took on all comers.

They were willing to throw down in the center of the ring.

Win or lose, they always left everything in the ring.

Vic Darchinyan, an Australian-based Armenian, believes he can win over those hardcore Mexican fans when he takes on Mexico's Cristian Mijares to unify the IBF, WBA and WBC super-flyweight titles on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. at The Home Depot Center. The fight will be televised tape delayed on Showtime at 9 p.m.

"I like Mexican fighters because they are warriors," Darchinyan said. "But you can't say Mijares has a Mexican style because Mexicans are warriors. They come into the ring and show how tough they are like Chavez did.

"I'm saying Mexicans are going to support me because they will see the style they want inside me. They are going to see a warrior and I am going to show them what I can do."

Darchinyan (30-1-1, 24 KOs) has an unorthodox southpaw style, but he packs one-punch KO power in both fists. Mijares (35-3-2, 14 KOs), also a southpaw, uses his superior technical skills and quickness to pile up points and win decisions.

"He (Mijares) just run around, touch people on the shoulders, get some points and win rounds," Darchinyan said. "That night I'm going to show I just don't want to win rounds, I'm going to destroy him."

Mijares is expected to have the homefield advantage with a large Mexican and Mexican-American turnout expected.

"I’m going to feel at home, not only for the Mexican fans that will be able to see me over there, but all the Hispanics," Mijares said. "The feeling that I have is I’m going to be very comfortable as if I was fighting at home."

Darchinyan, an Australian-based Armenian, believes his Armenian supporters will turn out in full force. There is a large Armenian community in Glendale. And, like he said, he believes he can win over the Mexican fans.

"Boxing is about excitement," Darchinyan said. "People pay money and come because they want to see exciting fights. That's what I deliver. I'm going to bring excitement."

Darchinyan has called Mijares overrated. He has also said "I'm going to break you in half" and "I'm going to destroy him badly" and he's going to send Mijares to the hospital.

Mijares said fighters who talk so much usually do so because they are afraid.

"I’m going to say one thing now and I want to make sure everybody understands," Mijares said. "He’s thinking he’s going to break me in half, he’s going to knock me out. I’m smart and strong at the same time. So I want everybody not to be surprised if I end up knocking out Vic Darchinyan on (Saturday night)."

Some believe the stage is set for a potential Darchinyan-Mijares trilogy similar to the classic three fights between Israel Vazquez and Rafael Marquez. Darchinyan said he will beat Mijares so definitively that people won't want to see a second or third fight.

Darchinyan is coming off as the villain throughout the promotion of the fight, but the pint-sized KO artist doesn't see it that way.

"I’m bad guy? Why I’m bad guy?" Darchinyan said. "Who remember fighters that are running? No one will remember him after I finish him, after I finish him (Saturday night). No one’s going to remember him. He’s not going to be champion. He’s history."

Doors open at 3 p.m. and the live card starts at 3:30 p.m. Call (213) 480-3232 or go online at ticketmaster.com for tickets ($25-$250).

SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING

AT THE HOME DEPOT CENTER, CARSON, SATURDAY, 3:30 P.M. (TAPE-DELAYED ON SHOWTIME AT 9 P.M.)

TELEVISED FIGHTS

IBF super-flyweight chamapion Vic Darchinyan (30-1-1, 24 KOs) of Sydney, Australia, vs. WBC/WBA super-flyweight champion Cristian Mijares (36-3-2, 14 KOs) of Gomez Palacio, Mexico

Andre Dirrell (16-0, 11 KOs) of Flint, Mich., vs. Victor Oganov (28-1, 28 KOs) of Perth, Australia, for the vacant NABO super-middleweight title

NON-TELEVISED UNDERCARD

Welterweight Marshall Martinez (7-0-1, 5 KOs) of Fontana vs. Michael Lucero (12-14-1, 4 KOs) of West Linn, Ore.

Super-featherweight Archie Ray Marquez (4-0, 4 KOs) of Albuquerque, N.M., vs. Luis Cervantes (7-4-3, 2 KOs) of Cathedral City

Super-featherweight Marvin Quintero (11-1, 9 KOs) of Tijuana, Mexico, vs. TBA

Featherweight Derrick Wilson (3-0, 1 KO) of Fort Myers, Fla., vs. TBA

Super-lightweight Jessie Vargas (2-0, 1 KO) of Las Vegas vs. TBA

Super-middleweight Carlos De Leon Jr. (20-2-2, 13 KOs) of Las Vegas vs. Brad Austin (8-4, 5 KOs) of Johnson City, Tenn.

RELATED LINKS

• FIGHT OF THE WEEK
• RING NOTES: Oganov finds home, best friend in Australia
• VIDEO: IBF super-fly champ Vic Darchinyan in LBC
• CONFERENCE CALL: Mijares-Darchinyan super-fly unification
• VIDEO: Ex-EliteXC Live Events president Gary Shaw interview
• VIDEO: Sights, sounds from Mijares-Darchinyan news conference

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