Arthur Abraham TKO's Edison Miranda
By Wray Edwards, Photos © Wray Edwards/ESB ringside. After all the trash talk and pawing the dust, Edison Miranda was unable to back it up. Last night at the Seminole Warriors Hard Rock Live in Miami, Florida, Arthur Abraham short circuited Edison’s plans to electrify the crowd. The first three rounds were typical Miranda-Abraham with Edison on the offensive and Abraham doing the Winky Wright peek-a-boo with an occasional counter flurry.
Arthur spent some time in the corners, but seemed to be waiting for Edison to punch himself out a bit.
Arthur started getting range with his left near the end of Round Three. He was definitely timing Edison, and just about had it dialed in by the end of three..
Edison was in Arthur’s face as much as he could muster. Abraham dithered with him for a while.
Miranda was getting scuffed up a bit so his corner medicated his snoot.
As Round Four began, Abraham began to really connect with the left.
Edison began to get a bit careless as he tried to unload on Abraham who unleashed the left above and put Miranda on his rear.
So he sits there for a few seconds and then gets up to…
take his eight and get back to it.
Miranda started to get pretty careless and approached with wide open swings which…
made him a vulnerable sitting duck for another sweeping Abraham left.
After another eight count, Edison gamely squares in front of Arthur. So Abraham clocks Miranda with another left and the Ref calls the TKO at 1:13 of Round Four.
Naturally Arthur is very happy…
and so is his wife.
There was a very excited group of fans in Abraham’s camp and one or two of his homies began to taunt Edison’s corner. Not surprising after Miranda’s uppity comments in the weeks leading up to the contest. Well, two or three of Miranda’s guys got hot and made moves at the Abraham campers. Warriors security stepped in and blocked their way.
Randal Bailey was involved and got a scolding from Warriors director of boxing. There was powerful jubilation in the European cluster behind us, and it was obvious they shared in Arthur’s vindication. Abraham left no doubt this time around.
We were all kept well informed as to what round it was by (from left) Astrid, Liz and Giselle who lifted those heavy round cards clear over their heads and walked around the ring.
The fight of the night was a thrilling slugaround between Mexican Raul Marquez and Giovanni Lorenzo in an IBF eliminator. Film at eleven…in the morning.
One is tempted to question the advisability of Edison continuing in this line of work. Not so Abraham who looks ready for more belt-seeking contests. ESB was again made to feel welcome by Redline Media and the Seminole Warriors Tribe. It was good to see Tom Craig back at the apron to shoot this event. See you at the fights.
Arthur Still King as he KO’s Miranda in Rematch
 By Frank Gonzalez Jr-- If you remember the first time Edison “Pantera” Miranda (30-3, 26 KO’s) and “King” Arthur Abraham (27-0, 22 KO’s) fought (back in September of 2006 for the IBF Middleweight title), Miranda broke Abraham’s jaw and bullied him for most of the fight but lost a controversial decision because Miranda was penalized for a total of five points during the course of the fight. The referee in that fight was Randy Newman. Three points were taken for low blows (two of which were questionable, as they were on the beltline) and two points for a head butt that appeared intentional. Many arguments can be made that Miranda beat the snot out of Abraham that night in Germany—but still lost the fight.
Though Abraham was hurt and more focused on defense after being injured, he did manage to land some very telling shots that night, particularly with his right hand. Though Miranda was busier and clearly did more damage in that fight, he suffered his first professional loss in a fight he should have won. For Miranda, Saturday night was time for redemption.
The Rematch
Round One
Miranda and Abraham fought tentatively in the first round. Abraham jabbed and threw a low shot and was warned (by referee Telis Assimenios) for a low punch. Miranda landed a nice right. Not much in this round, which I considered even at 10-10.
Round Two
Miranda landed an uppercut, followed by a couple of shots to the body. Abraham fought defensively as Miranda pressed forward with more punches. Miranda threw a low punch and was warned. 10-9 Miranda.
Round Three
Abraham landed a big right to the jaw that stunned Miranda. Miranda was warned for measuring. Abraham cracked Miranda with another right and a moment later, with a left hook. 10-9 Abraham.
Round Four
Abraham landed a clean right, left combo that floored Miranda. Miranda got up quick enough and a left hook from Abraham put him back down. Miranda got up and beat the count. Abraham went for the kill and threw a right that missed but followed with a left hook that caught Miranda on top of his head and down he went for a third time. This time, the referee stopped it.
It was over. Abraham wins by TKO 4.
Miranda sat on the canvas, dazed and disappointed. Abraham celebrated with his arms raised and a big smile.
It looks like there’ll be no need for a rubber match. Abraham ended up getting his redemption Saturday night. Conveniently for Abraham, this fight was at a catch weight, so Abraham’s IBF Middleweight Title was not even on the line.
For Miranda, it’s back to the drawing board. For all of his offensive prowess, Miranda needs to work on his defensive skills and become a more complete fighter. At 27 years old, he still has time to regroup and make his mark. He has one quality that is always marketable and that is the wild excitement he brings to the ring. Miranda now has three losses on his record, two to Abraham and one to Kelly Pavlik.
Miranda would do well to work on his defensive skills and then go after the likes of Mikkel Kessler, Jermain Taylor, Vitaly Tsypko, Jean Pascal or even Jeff Lacy (as a confidence builder). If he beats any of those guys, he can easily find himself back in line for another title shot.
Congratulations to Arthur Abraham, who showed disciplined boxing skills complimented by solid power in both hands. He and Kelly Pavlik are arguably the best fighters in the Middleweight division and as such, should fight each other. Now that Abraham has come and won here in the USA, fight fans will be eager to see the best against the best. For the promoters, this is a win-win situation. Abraham vs. Pavlik is an intriguing match up. Both are quality boxers with good power, defense and ring generalship. Considering that Pavlik just fought two weeks ago and Abraham just fought yesterday, it’s totally reasonable that they can schedule their next fight to be against each other. Let’s hope Pavlik vs. Abraham happens inside the next six months.
Abraham Stomps Miranda, Marquez Wins
 Photos TOM CASINO/SHOWTIME - HOLLYWOOD, Fla. (June 22, 2008) – With three well-timed power punches, “King” Arthur Abraham blasted his was to a definitive fourth-round TKO over nemesis Edison Miranda in a thrilling rematch Saturday on SHOWTIME. In a terrific co-feature, an IBF middleweight eliminator, veteran Raul Marquez won a close unanimous 12-round decision over Dominican upstart Giovanni Lorenzo. All three judges scored the bout 114-113.
The two-fight SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast was presented by Seminole Warriors Boxing and Sauerland Event in association with The Seminole Tribe of Florida.
In one of the most anticipated rematches since Marquez-Vazquez II, Abraham and Miranda had unfinished business. In their first fight, in September 2006 in Germany, Abraham won a controversial, and some say confusing, unanimous decision after suffering a broken jaw in the fifth round. Miranda had five points deducted in that fight (for a head butt and repeated low blows).
On Saturday, they met at a catchweight of 166 pounds with Abraham’s IBF middleweight title belt sitting safely in his dressing room. But Abraham left no doubt with a powerful display that Miranda could not withstand.
Despite winning two of the first three rounds on the scorecards, Miranda went down three times in the fourth round. The first came after a straight right hand landed squarely on Miranda’s chin. Abraham sent Miranda reeling just moments after he got up with a vicious left hook. A final, flush left hook sent Miranda down for the third time in the round and referee Tellis Assmenios waved it off at 1:13.
“Abraham showed us that he is a force to be reckoned with,” said SHOWTIME analyst AL Bernstein. “For one thing, he is very difficult to hit and hurt. More importantly, he has serious power.”
“Boom, Boom, Boom,” said Abraham as he watched the replay of his knockdown punches with SHOWTIME reporter Jim Gray immediately after the fight. “In this fight, I was more cautious. The last time, I didn't pay as much attention to that. Tonight, I tired him out then knocked him down.”
The undefeated middleweight champion, Abraham (27-0, 22 KOs) is an Armenian native now living and training in Germany. After the fight, he told the SHOWTIME audience that he enjoyed fighting in America and for the enthusiastic crowd at Hard Rock Live. And that he wanted the opportunity to fight Oscar De La Hoya and Kelly Pavlik next.
Miranda, of Yonkers, NY, by way of Colombia, drops to 30-3, (26 KOs) and has said he plans to campaign at 168 regardless of the outcome of this fight.
“He came very well prepared,” said Miranda. “I have no quarrels tonight. He felt very strong. I don't know what happened. I was 100 percent coming into this fight. The last fight, I was 50 percent. I don't know. He was too strong today. He's a great champion.”
The Lorenzo-Marquez fight was a bruising, physical and entertaining affair. Marquez, at 36-years-old, clearly showed that he has the heart, will and skill to fight Abraham for the IBF title.
Despite a slow start, Marquez dominated Lorenzo in the middle rounds. He found a rhythm in the fourth round and fought a tough and intelligent fight. Marquez sustained two deep cuts over his right eye in the 10th as Lorenzo pressed him in the last three rounds. But it wasn’t enough to overcome the game and gritty veteran.
SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING’s Steve Albert and Al Bernstein called the action from ringside with Jim Gray serving as a roving reporter. The executive producer of the SHOWTIME telecast was David Dinkins Jr., the producer was Chuck McKean with Bob Dunphy directing
Abraham Puts Miranda Out In Four; Marquez upsets Lorenzo!
- By Alden "The Kid" Chodash, ringside: IBF Middleweight Champion Arthur Abraham (now 27-0 with 22 KOs) took out Columbian knockout artist Edison Miranda inside of four rounds at The Hard Rock in Hollywood, Florida. In this highly-anticipated non-title bout, Miranda took the upper hand in the early going against a seemingly uninspired Abraham. However, Abraham began to respond with his own shots in the third before a right hand followed by a big left hook put Miranda down in a flash.. After Miranda arose, Abraham connected with a big left hook which put Miranda in dire straits. "Pantera", who barely got to his feet, was a sitting duck for the finishing onslaught of the Sauerland's Middleweight Champion and was stopped shortly afterwards. Abraham's sequeled victory not only trumped his first, highly-controversial win against Miranda back in '06, but it put him in position for lucrative matches down the road against top middleweights or super-middleweights depending on which division Abraham chooses to campaign in.
Former world champion Raul Marquez (now 41-3 with 29 KOs) gets another title crack with his thrilling upset of previously unbeaten Giovanni Lorenzo (now 26-1, 18 KOs). The Dominican (Lorenzo) made what turned out to be a crucial technical error early in the bout by languishing on the ropes and therefore allowing Marquez to find a target and to score effectively with a strong attack to the body and head. Although Lorenzo was able nevertheless to win the first few rounds, and even managed to buzz Marquez on one occasion in the second, his approach began to backfire in the middle rounds. In the tenth, a frustrated Lorenzo added his head to his arsenal and was deducted a point as a result. Lorenzo scored well in the final two rounds on Marquez, who at this point was a gory mess (which is really no surprise given his track record as a bleeder), but was unable to reverse Marquez's dominance in the middle rounds who took a hard-fought, unanimous decision victory. Scores across the board were 114-113.
Just before the Showtime broadcast got underway, local prospect Ed Paredes impressively stopped veteran Maximino Cuevas after the second round when the ringside physician prompted referee Jorge Alonso to call a halt. Paredes (19-2 12 KO) was remarkably accurate, scoring with a plethora of shots on close range. After Cuevas (10-8-1 5 KO) was arguably saved by the bell that ended the second round, a stoppage inevitably took place.
The Hard Rock card began with the debuting Elijah McCall, son of former Heavyweight Champion Oliver McCall, getting rid of his opponent at 2:14 in the opening round. The victim, Darion Moss, gave an inspired effort before he eventually succumbed to the continuous attack of McCall who got the job done when referee Jorge Alonso intervened.
Local favorite Kenny Galarza (6-0 6 KOs) impressed the crowd with his short, dominant performance over Hercules Barrantes (5-1-1 2 KOs) which reached a conclusion shortly before the end of the opening round. Galarza’s left hook was devastating when it connected, and both of those occasions resulted in knockdowns for the Puerto Rican. The second knockdown left Barrantes practically motionless on the canvas which prompted the referee to refrain from finishing the count and immediately wave the bout off.
Norweigen female prospect, Cecilia Braekhus (8-0 2 KO) scored a unanimous decision victory over Nicole Woods (4-3) to continue her unbeaten streak as well as to showcase her talents to an American audience. Braekhus controlled the action, scoring often with right hands on long range. Although Woods responded with a spirited rally in the final round, it was too little, too late for the Brooklyn native, as she lost a unanimous decision after six rounds. Scores were 59-55 (twice) and 60-54.
Undefeated Victor Cayo (16-0 10 KO) also took center stage and had little problem outpointing the determined, yet overmatched Harrison Cuello (15-7-2 11 KO) over the course of six lackluster rounds. Things began to heat up in the second however, as Cayo was able to hurt Cuello with a series of punches but was unable to put him away or even down. The majority of the bout featured Cayo using his clear height advantage to keep Cuello at a distance while frequently scoring with right hands and left hooks on occasion. All three judges saw it the same at 60-54.
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