Edison Miranda Warning: Can Lucian Bute Fend Off Le Tombeur?
By Gina L. Caliboso
This Saturday, Colombia’s Edison “Pantera” Miranda, 33-4, 29 KO’s, is set to fight Lucian “Le Tombeur” Bute, 25-0, 20 KO’s.
As most of you fight fans know, Bute is currently ranked #1 among super middleweights and holds the IBF Super Middleweight belt. Even in the midst of the upcoming breakdown of the results in the Super 6 Tournament, the super middleweight division is so filled with talent and Bute can have his pick of fights.
He has selected to fight Miranda and for now, Miranda must prove himself as a viable contender among the top 10 super middleweights. In order to defeat Bute, his fighting chance must turn into a must win-win situation.
Currently ranked #17 among the super middleweight division, Miranda’s losses are keys to his own potential. His record is far more respectable in the quality and caliber of his opponents. With the exception of Bute, Miranda has fought against the best among the super middleweights. Going back to 2006, Miranda’s loss record is nothing to be ashamed of.
As I always look to a fighter’s loss record, Miranda’s loss record reads like a who’s who among super middleweights. See if these fighters sound the least bit familiar.
In 2006, Miranda lost a 12 round unanimous decision to Arthur “King Arthur” Abraham. In 2007, he defeated now Super 6 Middleweight contender Allan “Ghost Dog” Green in a 10 round unanimous decision.
In 2008, Miranda lost to Kelly “Ghost” Pavlik with a 7th round TKO in a WBC Middleweight title eliminator bout. He later decided to fight Abraham for a second time and lost in the 4th round with a TKO. Finally, in 2009, he lost to Andre “S.O.G” Ward in a 12 round unanimous decision for the NABF Super Middleweight and WBO/NABO Super middleweight title belts.
Miranda has fought against 3 of the Super 6 Middleweight fighters and has fought Pavlik, the current WBC & WBO Middleweight champion. No shame in losing to solid championship fighters for a potential belt. Miranda has fought the best in his division, he just hasn’t quite learned to win in a convincing fashion and emerge as the victor on a championship level.
In his first bout against Abraham, Miranda earned an unfortunate accusation of being a “dirty fighter.” For me, a dirty fighter falls under the now infamous DQ of Abraham in his fight against Dirrell. Against Miranda, Abraham had suffered a broken jaw in the 4th round. Later in the 5th round, Miranda was deducted two points for an intentional headbutt. And later, in the 7th round, two points were deducted, followed by another point deduction in the eleventh round. Both deductions were for low blows. Despite the broken jaw and low blows, Abraham won the fight via unanimous decision.
Even with his losses against notable fighters, Miranda has his share of easily defeating opponents in convincing TKO/KO fashion. Following his loss to Abraham, Miranda defeated Willie Gibbs with a 1st round KO and later defeated Green. After his loss to Pavlik, he bounced back to defeat Henry Porras by a 5th round TKO followed by a KO in the 3rd round against David Banks. Miranda’s KO of Banks in the 3rd round made the Best KO List of 2008. I saw it – it’s brutal! The ref continued to count with Banks’ body thrown on the ropes and outside the ring.
In 2008, as he faced and lost to Abraham for the second time, Miranda again defeated his next two opponents, Manuel Esparza with a 3rd round KO followed by a win over Joey Vegas with a 5th round TKO. Now, after his loss to Andre Ward, he defeated Francisco Sierra with a 1st round KO. Strictly by patterns, he takes a loss and wins big. The time just may be due to reel in a major belt and who better than against Bute, the currently #1 ranked super middleweight?
Whether his time is due (and I think it is), Miranda has tremendous fighting instinct. He is a quick starter and tries to establish pace and intimidation in the first round. In his fight against Pavlik, Miranda did not initially back down and Pavlik was struck by surprise by his aggression in the first round. Miranda does, however, have a tendency to be surprised, even bewildered, when he confronts a fighter with as much aggression and fight as himself.
Against Bute on Saturday night, Miranda must put the pressure on. From footage I’ve seen, he has a solid right hand and a left hook. Once in combination mode, he is difficult to stop. He doesn’t back down from the mix and with the exception of getting in trouble in the corner, he makes an imprint with his power shots. Edison is solidly built, always going forward; and immediately puts the pressure on his opponent. In order to defeat Bute, Miranda needs to cultivate his defense, establish his power jab cross combination that will solidly connect against his opponent, and of course, intimidate his opponent by a strong offense.
For now, it’s safe to say that Miranda definitely has his work cut out for him against Bute. Like I believe, his time is due and he’s got the fighting chance that all champions must take and take advantage. One can never know what to expect from him and that is exactly why he makes a dangerous opponent and potential championship title beltholder among the super middleweights.