by James Slater – Tonight, at the historic York Hall in Bethnal Green, London, 28-year-old Edison “Pantera” Miranda made a successful UK debut, as he hammered the useful Ugandan Joey Vegas to a 5th round defeat. Boxing slightly above the light-heavyweight limit, the big-hitting Colombian put Vegas down twice in the 3rd round, and in the 5th round he pounded on his man sufficiently for referee Ken Curtis to decide to dive in and save the 27-year-old from taking further punishment. The official time was 2-minutes and 35-seconds of the 5th, and with the win Miranda improved to 32-3(28). Vegas, who gave it a go, fell to 11-5-1(4).
Miranda, in front of an interested audience of fans who were thrilled to see the big name boxing in London for the very first time, started slowly, throwing only jabs in the opening three minutes. Vegas, who has some cute moves and is experienced, got through with the punch of the round, a sneaky right to the head. It was a very quiet opener, though.
Vegas used his fast hands quite well in the 2nd, catching the advancing “Pantera” with a few shots. Vegas never troubled Miranda, however, simply because he hasn’t the kind of power needed to do so. A good right hand to the head scored for Miranda, and later a left uppercut to the head caught Vegas as he was stuck on the ropes in a corner. There was good pressure from the Colombian at the end of the session.
Miranda really got to his man in the 3rd, as he twice sent Vegas to the floor. A left hook upstairs hurt Vegas, and seconds later he was sent tumbling to the canvas by Miranda’s follow-up attack – the actual punch that sent Vegas down being unclear. Up in time to continue, Vegas was then fouled by Miranda, who hit his opponent while he had his back to him. A brief time-out was called by Curtis and Miranda was warned. Some big right hands landed for Miranda, as did two lefts to the head, before Vegas had a touch of success of his own – stinging Miranda with a nice right hand. The action was flowing now, and just before the bell Miranda sent Vegas down for a second time courtesy of a heavy right and a left behind it.
Vegas managed to look pretty sprightly for the first minute-and-a-half or so of the 4th, before Miranda’s heavy hands pounded him, again while the Uganda was stuck on the ropes. Miranda was looking for the right hand to finish the job, and Vegas was looking tired now.
The end came in the 5th, as Miranda suddenly turned it on and let loose with both hands. Again with his back in a corner, Vegas soaked up some punishing blows to the head before the ref jumped in and stopped it. The fans enjoyed seeing Miranda in the flesh, and “Pantera” smiled broadly upon receiving the applause he was rewarded with due to his impressive win.
Reportedly in the hunt for a shot at the Carl Froch-Jermain Taylor winner, Miranda figures to get at least one more big opportunity before he’s done.