Official Picks for Ward-Miranda
by Scott Christ on May 15, 2009 3:44 AM EDT
in Boxing Fight Previews
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Andre Ward v. Edison Miranda (Super MIddleweights - 12 Rounds, Non-Title)
Andre Ward (18-0, 12 KO) faces the greatest test of his career this Saturday night in Oakland when he takes on Colombian wrecker Edison Miranda (32-3, 28 KO).
It's an interesting fight from many viewpoints. Ward is facing a genuine puncher for the first time. Miranda is looking to get back on track in a highly-publicized fight (or at least close enough to it). A guy like Miranda always will find a home on TV because of his style and because of the way he fights. It's all or nothing. The only times he's lost has been against the world's top two middleweights. Kelly Pavlik whomped him over seven rounds, and his other two losses came to Arthur Abraham. In their first bout he broke Abraham's jaw and lost a 12-round decision; the second time around, at a 166-pound catchweight, Abraham finished him in the fourth.
But Miranda is always dangerous, and Ward, 25, has yet to go against a big, hard-hitting guy. His February win over Henry "Sugar Poo" Buchanan was hardly inspiring, which is owed in part to Buchanan's non-aggressive nature and Ward's inability to really press him, which likely would have led to a stoppage. He was the bigger man, far more naturally skilled, and had it all on "Sugar Poo."
Miranda, 28, isn't the best fighter around or anything. He's a big-talking slugger whose chin can take some shots, but he's very, very beatable. Still, Miranda has some physical advantages. Ward is 6'1" with a 73" reach; Miranda, at just 5'10", has very long arms (77 1/2" reach), and the power that can be generated at the end of his fists is very real.
Technically, Ward is Miranda's superior. The ex-Olympian is no doubt a far, far better pure boxer than Miranda, and if he stays back and works his game, he should win a wide decision. But Ward promises to be in Miranda's face, perhaps looking at what Pavlik and Abraham did: The bully (Miranda) can be very effectively bullied, and can't fight worth a damn off moving backward.
If Miranda catches Ward and pulls the minor upset, I will not be surprised. But I can't pick Edison over a good boxer, which Ward definitely is, and his power is there, too. Gotta go with the guy with the better pedigree. Ward UD-12
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Huge step up
This is a collosal step up in class for Andre Ward. Class is the wrong word, however, when mentioning his opponent Edison Miranda. The Columbian shows little class in or out of the ring, but what he does have is a tremendous heart and a thunderous punch. I am a little surprised that Ward is the favourite, although his pedigree warrants his hype. But Miranda has been in some epic fights with top opposition. And he didn’t lose them all. Yes, he came up short against the best in the world, Arthur Abraham and Kelly Pavlik. He chose to meet them head on, as he always does, and these guys happen to punch harder than him. But Miranda absolutely dominated Allan Green, whom he just bullied for ten one-sided rounds. Barring round 8 when he was caught with a peach of a shot and sent to the canvas. And he came through a war with the slick Howard Eastman, who was a great middleweight at the time.
The fact is, Ward looks capable of toying with Miranda for a while, but Miranda’s looping overhands punches are concussive, they come from afar and they could change this fight in an instant. Are we talking a punchers chance? No, I think there is a good chance Ward will be badly hurt and he has fought no-one who can prepare him for Miranda. If he comes through it, I will be very excited about Ward, who will need to show his courage, chin and heart in this fight, as well as his obvious skills. I don’t think Ward punches hard enough to stop Miranda, though a late stoppage isn’t out of the question.
But my sense is telling me that this fight has come a little too soon for the Olympian.
As pointed out, Miranda is very beatable. He is more sluggish than ever, and an easy target – you don’t have to go looking for him. But only two of the finest middleweights in the world have managed to topple him thus far. But how will ward react to his power-shots, I hope he can take them, but hoping is one thing. I hope Ward wins because I like the look of him but…
Miranda by KO in the 8th.
Ward UD
I toyed with the idea of going with a mid-rounds TKO by Ward, but my judgment got the best of me.
Vogt early, Vogt often.
Too Risky
I’m not making a pick on this one. Anything can happen.
Shouldn’t the fact that anything can happen make the prospect of picking more exciting?
Especially since the picks are for pride and not monetary reasons
Dinks Pick
My head and fingers on the keyboard are ready to type out Ward UD but something in my bones is telling me Miranda is going to stop him late. Miranda throws wide arc bombs and Ward totally has the skills to move out the way and outbox Pantera. Miranda only lost to the best so far..and while Andre is a talent , it might be too soon.
My picks have been crap lately but im taking a risk on this one
MIRANDA TKO 9
Keep looking for Madeleine McCann. She is out there.
Ward - TKO 8
Seems like Miranda has taken it less seriously in the gym. Looked a little fleshy (just a little) in the Joey Vegas fight. Ward will put him on the back foot as SC said. Miranda will be there to be hit
Tough pick
I’ve rarely seen Andre Ward fights post-Olympics but I’ve seen a lot of Miranda’s. Problem is I don’t know which Miranda will show up. Will it be the one that clocked Allan Green late in the final round? Or will it be the one that Pavlik hammered? He’s very wild with his shots, but when he hits you you’re in trouble. On the other hand, it’s not that hard to knock him down because his defense is shoddy at best.
I’m on a roll (6-1, 1 KO) and if Andre Ward wants to be a true contender he should knock this guy out.
Ward – TKO 7
Seattle Seahawks: We've got Brian Russell and TWO kickers!
Ward – UD
It’s so tempting to pick a KO here, but I think Ward will taste Miranda’s power and get cautious.
I’m wavering on whether to pick a Ward KO. I really want to see how Miranda looks at the weigh-in. Also, I like what Ward said at the presser about “If you’ve seen one Miranda fight, you’ve seen them all.”, but knowing what you need to do to kayo Miranda and doing it are two very different things. You really have to back him down and display a killer instinct. Abraham and Pavlik most definitely have a killer instinct. I have yet to see that in Ward.
"This fight'll be the nastiest thing you'll ever see. I been sober for six weeks, and that makes me vicious."
-- Randall 'Tex' Cobb
Don't feel real confident on this one, but
I think Ward stays away enough to keep out of trouble. He is so much faster than Miranda it is ridiculous. I just wish I knew if he could take a good shot or not.
Ward UD
He can't really
Chin’s probably average at best, Kenny Kost had him pretty badly hurt in an early fight. If he takes a shot like David Banks did, he may very well go down, but Ward moves a lot better than Banks.
Vogt early, Vogt often.
Miranda KO 7
Miranda has only been driven back in a fight when hit with a really good punch. As good as Ward is, he doesn’t really work off his power like Abraham and Pavlik do and unless he’s able to dish out some serious pain, Miranda will not stop coming. I think Ward will elude Miranda’s fury for a while but he will get overconfident in the exchanges. He’ll get caught, eventually.
Ward doesn’t have work class power like Abraham or Pavlik does…
"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."
Or even Allan Green
But…he has a more sustained attack than most of the guys Miranda has faced, and Ward’s a smart fighter who will know what works before stepping into the ring.
Vogt early, Vogt often.
great, that makes me even less confident
I was liking this bet too when I saw Ward at -250, he is already down to -300 and I am too scared to pick him now. (I picked Taylor, lost quite a bit on that one.)
Miranda TKO 6- Ward is the better athlete and boxer and has the better amateur pedigree. However, I’m not sold on him yet. Miranda will catch his chin with one of his C4 right hands and it will be over. I’m thinking this one ends like Miranda’s fight with David Banks, with Ward being stretched across the top rope without any idea of where he is.
Ward- UD
Boxing is the beginning of all sports. I'm willing to bet that the first sport was a man against another man in a fight. (Omar Epps)
I am going with an Upset…
Ward has not proven to me that he has a good consistent workrate… He just doesn’t let his hands go. He is kinda like Juarez… always looking for the perfect shot. I know he can box circles around Miranda but he just doesn’t strike me as a guy who will impose his will on the fight.
Miranda KO 8th.
"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."
tough one
but i’m going to go with pantara on this one.
ward hasn’t really shown me anything special at all and been dropped by club fighters.
im thinking pantara by ko in 4th. if he gets him its going to be early.
i see ward easly running for 10 rounds and taking a decision here too but i’m gonna go with my gut and stick with pantara.
Miranda KO 9
Was going to say Ward by decision, but think Miranda will catch him late with a big shot.
Miranda KO 9
Pick
Ward UD 12- Miranda is just a C+ fighter with good power. That is good enough to highlight reel David Banks but not enough to compete on this level. I think Miranda is a guy ripe to be stopped but I’m not sure Ward could stop me the way he looked against Buchanan. I haven’t seen a worse fight this year. Miranda is an intriguing name but I expect more of the same. I also wouldn’t be shocked to see a late DQ win for Ward as Miranda always seems to rack up the warnings and deductions. I expect Ward’s defense to be the difference and his workrate enough to win a 118-108 type decision.
My pick
Ward TKO 6…not that impressed by what I’ve seen, but its your hometown so hopefully he’ll try and put on a show rather than grind to a UD, hoping for fireworks!
Ward UD 12.
That is all.
"Karma - there it was. The meaning of life, straight from Carson Daly's lips to my morphine-laced ears." -Earl Hickey
Ward KO 10
There’s something I don’t like about the way Miranda looks for this fight. I think he will wear himself out trying to get through Ward’s D, and give Andre a chance to show off some offensive firepower late in the fight. A puncher is as dangerous as long as he’s alive, so Ward will have to show some spine and and kill, kill, kill when Miranda is hurt/gassed.
"This fight'll be the nastiest thing you'll ever see. I been sober for six weeks, and that makes me vicious."
-- Randall 'Tex' Cobb
Ward UD
Ward UD. As has been said, I think Ward could be KO’d in this fight, but I’m guessing that Miranda’s on the down-slope and Ward’s speed is substantial.
Pick
Ward UD wouldn’t be surprised if he loses by tko though
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