Rumor Mill: Andre Ward vs Edison Miranda
A source close to the Miranda camp is reporting that Andre Ward and Edison Miranda are close to coming to terms to fight on May 16 on Showtime. This would be a big step up for Ward, who's mostly fought low-level journeymen up to this point. He has said he wants to get a title fight by the end of the year, and this is certainly a step in the right direction. In addition, this might help answer some questions about his chin, as he has been wobbled by a couple of low-level fighters early in his career. Due to injuries and other mishaps, Ward's been moved as slowly as any top prospect in recent memory, but a win over Miranda would clearly put him on the map for contenders at 168.
Miranda, on the other hand, could use redemption. He's a Grade A trash talker, but in the ring, he's been a Grade B fighter, losing badly the last two times he stepped up. He does have good wins over Allan Green and David Banks, and a close (and heavily disputed) loss to Arthur Abraham in which he broke Abraham's jaw. While he's no tactical fighter or slickster, we could see Ward change up his gameplan once he feels Miranda's power.
As an aside, this leaves very few options for Lucian Bute. It's been rumored that he wants to make a fight for late June, before his mandatory against the Andrade-Tsypko winner becomes due. As a beltholder, any fight would need to be against someone in the IBF top 15. This includes Vitali Tsypko (busy), Librado Andrade (busy), Sakio Bika (already beaten by Bute), Robert Steiglitz (not a name and not particularly worthy), Andre Dirrell (waiting for the WBC to order his mandatory against an easier opponent), Jeff Lacy (busy), Ward and Miranda, Jesse Brinkley, Anthony Mundine (busy), Dennis Inkin, Jean Pascal (busy), Allan Green (busy) and Jean Paul Mendy (busy). Bute's camp has already publicly dismissed Brinkley as an option. Former titlist Inkin might be an interesting option, but there really isn't a whole lot there.
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Well this would be a great fight to see. Ward has spoon fed C fighter, and Miranda is the gatekeeper of the middle/supermiddleweight division.
"Boxing is dirty," said Casamayor. " The day I’m not ready to be a dirty fighter is the day I don’t fight anymore because it will mean that I have no heart for it anymore."
Exactly what I was thinking
I like Ward in general, and his Olympic pedigree is so obvious in his ring demeanor. But now I need to see him in a genuine, balls-to-the-wall fight against someone who can really slug and is willing to so. Miranda fits that bill nicely. I think I’ve seen the killer instinct in him, but in the Buchanan fight he sometimes seemed a little too tentative. He’s got the tools and the talent, but i want to see grit now.
"I want to see ocean. I want to see black people. I want to see palms." - Wladimir Klitschko
http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/boxing/news/story?id=3452714
He’s on aobut his 20th fight, so title fights a-comin’!
Didn't Green have some kind of medical problem
when he fought Miranda. I thought he had a major surgery right after the fight bc of a previous ailment. I do not think that Miranda would beat Green if they fought again.
I would like to see this fight. I wonder if Edison could get under Andre’s skin and get him to talk some trash.
Quite possibly
He had 85% of his colon removed not too long after that, and he attributes that to his sluggish performance that night. Also, he was weight drained and the fight was at a catchweight of 162. I thought it was a very frustrating fight to watch. It felt like Green should have been able to win with relative ease, but he just wasn’t doing anything. Miranda’s never really thrown enough punches.
Vogt early, Vogt often.
Bute/Inkin.
Would really like to see that fight.
Inkin, for all his faults, is still one of the top few fighters in the division, and one of very few real challenges for Bute, either with regard to name or actual level.
Does the fact a boxer doesn't switch weight divisions during their career detract from their overall P4P ranking?
Cos I'd take Hagler over most heavies in history, P4P, and also over "6 weight world champion" Oscar De La Hoya, and Marvellous Marvin never really messed about with his weight, did he?
Ward goes sleepy if this fight happens
I’ve heard feather-fisted, Bay Area pothead Nick Diaz has wacked him a good one in sparring. Miranda leaves him hanging through the ropes
Gimme 1 round!
There's a good chance of that
Ward was pretty badly hurt in one of his early pro fights too. Can’t remember which one though.
Vogt early, Vogt often.

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