The glass half-full view for Arely Mucino is that her first title fight in more than three years has arrived right on time. 

The former three-time flyweight titlist is confident of beginning her fourth reign this weekend. Mucino faces unbeaten IBF flyweight titlist Leonela Paola Yudica as part of a Golden Boy-promoted DAZN show this Saturday from Pechanga Arena in San Diego.

It is the first title fight for Mucino (31-3-2, 11KOs) since April 2019. The 33-year-old from Monterrey, Mexico vacated her WBO title due to circumstances beyond her control, but of the belief that she’d get another title shot right away.

Instead came the long wait, though with the chance to reload.

“Everything happens for a reason. God is perfect in his timing for when these moments arrive. Mucino theorized to BoxingScene.com. “It hurt me to have to give up my WBO title in that manner. We are leaving it all in the gym. This is my second full training camp with Joel Diaz and we’ve really put in a lot of hard work in preparing to become champion once again.”

Mucino and her husband, former WBO junior flyweight titlist Angel Acosta, linked up with Diaz last summer. The move was a necessity, as they needed a new trainer following the loss of her father, Juan Mucino who guided the career of both boxers before passing away last summer due to Covid-related complications.

A ten-fight win streak accompanies the longtime flyweight into the ring this weekend, against an opponent she once envisioned meeting in a title unification bout. Argentina’s Yudica (18-0-3, 1KO) has held the IBF flyweight title since December 2014, attempting her tenth title defense as she makes her U.S. debut. There was an overlap of more than year where Yudica and Mucnio both held flyweight titles.

“Absolutely, Leonela has been on our radar before,” acknowledged Mucino. “I’m always mindful of every fighter one division above, one division below and in our weight division. We know she’s a tremendous champion and a tough fighter. She’s a warrior, physically and mentally.

“We’ve seen her get off the canvas to win. She’s a true champion and a warrior in the ring. I am treating her as if she’s my toughest opponent.”

Yudica-Mucino serves in supporting capacity to a lightweight crossroads bout between former IBF junior lightweight titlist Joseph ‘JoJo’ Diaz (32-2-1, 15KOs) and unbeaten 135-pound contender William Zepeda 26-0, 23KOs).

Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox