by James Slater – A while back, shortly after his brutal stoppage loss to Kelly Pavlik, Ring magazine wrote how Colombian middleweight/super-middleweight Edison Miranda, unless he improved his boxing skills and his defence, was in danger of becoming the new Ricardo Mayorga. Well, two quick wins later, “Pantera” met Arthur Abraham for a second time and was mercilessly dispatched inside four rounds. Abraham seemingly couldn’t miss Miranda and Ring magazine’s prediction looked spot on..
Now known as an entertaining loser at top level, Miranda has lost much of his pre-Pavlik menace. Fighters know, if they can back Miranda up, make sure they don’t allow him to bully them and force the action, they will sooner or later crack his not-too-hard-to-find chin. Like Mayorga before him, Miranda is an entertaining and always dangerous puncher, but one who looks like he will always lose the big ones.
The tough warrior who lives in Puerto Rico is not willing to go away quietly yet. Having lost two of his last four bouts, both inside the distance, Miranda makes yet another attempt at rebuilding himself this coming November 11th. Set to move up in weight yet again, this time to light-heavyweight, and face a TBA at The Seminole Hard Rock Cafe, Florida – on a card that will also feature (according to Box Rec, Glen Johnson and Buddy McGirt Junior) – the 27-year-old with the still impressive 30-3(26) record will be trying his best to make the fans forget his drubbing at the hands of “King” Arthur.
The loss to Pavlik was blamed on efforts to make the 160 pound weight limit, and some fans bought this story. With no possible excuse for the 4th round TKO at the hands of the unbeaten German in June (Miranda surely cannot say he was weight-drained again, can he?) Miranda is simply going to have to do his talking with his fists and try and get some momentum going in this, his second (or is it third?) comeback. Despite being found out at world level, Miranda will always have the fans tuning in to see him fight. Capable of scoring a KO himself, at any time and against just about anyone he shares a ring with, “Pantera” remains a fighter worth watching.
Still, it is questionable how many more chances Miranda will be able to get. He’s already had both a world title fight and a couple of world title eliminators, losing two of the three bouts. And his last fight with Abraham, though not a world title fight, was against a reigning world champion and a huge opportunity as such. It may be a long hard road for Miranda before the 27-year-old who loves to talk trash will get another shot at the big time.
It’s by no means over for him yet, but unless the vulnerable power puncher can get himself a few consecutive wins at his new weight, then a victory over a genuine top-ten guy, it is unlikely he will be getting another world title fight. Sure, Miranda may feel he’ll be more comfortable and strong at 175-pounds, but he had also better be aware how much harder his forthcoming opponents will be capable of hitting him.
The odds are certainly against Miranda becoming a world title holder at light-heavyweight. As brave as he is, as hungry as he is and as dangerous as he is, if a middleweight and a super-middleweight can knock him out, what will a top class light-heavyweight do?