by James Slater -Two fighters, due to their respective performances over the weekend, seem to be headed in the same direction: downhill. Both exciting fighters, super-middleweight Edison Miranda and light-welterweight/welterweight Ricardo Torres fought on Friday and Saturday night, and both men put on showings that were far from impressive ones. At least one Colombian, in Torres, managed a win..
Returning to action for the first time in ten months – or since the incredible one-round war with Kendal Holt that he lost – the former WBO 140-pound champion engaged in what was supposed to be a mere tune-up this past Friday in his homeland. Facing countryman Raul Pinzon, 16-2(15) coming in, Torres instead had to go through sheer hell to emerge the victor.
Knocked down in the opening round, the fourth round and in the seventh round, Torres was behind on all three official cards going into the 10th and last round. Told by his corner he needed to score a KO to save the day, the fighter who has never been short on guts and courage did just that. Downing a tired Pinzon three times in an amazing final round, Torres pulled out a comeback win courtesy of a stoppage at 2 minutes and nine-seconds of the 10th round!
Dramatic and admirable Torres’ win was, but this much of a handful was not what he needed in such a fight. Was the ten month layoff at least partly to blame? Was welterweight too high a weight for Torres to box at? Did Torres underestimate Pinzon? Or, least appealing of all, is the former WBO champ shot or close to it? We will find out in the coming months, as there seems little to no chance the Barranquilla native will retire. 29-year-old Torres is now 33-2(29), 29-year-old Pinzon – who may have made a real name for himself – is now 16-3(15).
As for the 168-pounder who was born in Colombia, Edison Miranda; his career figures to go on also – even though he was soundly out-pointed last night by unbeaten former Olympic gold medallist Andre Ward in Oakland, California (see Ted Sares superb report for full details). Losing a near shut-out on two cards, “Pantera” lost for the fourth time in his career, and the 28-year-old has now come away with a defeat in three of his last seven outings. As such, much of Miranda’s marketability has diminished, and his choices are limited.
Still a recognisable name to be sure, Miranda’s problem is the fact that he has always lost the big, important fights. Kelly Pavlik and Arthur Abraham beat him in high-profile bouts, and now Ward can add his name to the list. “Pantera” will always be able to beat the David Banks and Joey Vegas’s of the world, but his chances of ever winning the big one look decidedly remote now. One possible way back for the power-puncher could be a rematch with Allan Green, who he out-pointed back in March of 2007 – taking away Green’s unbeaten record in the process.
The way Green has bounced back from the loss, to beat his next five opponents – the dangerous Carlos De Leon Junior last time out on the Froch-Taylor card – has turned him back into a possible world title challenger. Maybe, just maybe, if Green can capture a portion of the 168-pound championship, he will want to defend against the only man to have ever beaten him. The win Miranda scored over Green is now the main highlight on his record. Perhaps the victory that saw both men hit the mat will prove to be a lifeboat for the Colombian who lives now in Puerto Rico.
Both Torres and Miranda are always good value for money operators, but judging by their last outings they don’t figure to be pleasing crowds for too much longer.