By Cliff Rold
It isn’t a world title fight nor are there any pound for pound stakes. It’s just a good match between two guys who find themselves in a position where the stakes are high if they want to get into the rarified high stakes circles which get the biggest names paid.
It’s a good old fashioned crossroads fight featuring a young potential star and the scarred veteran who may not be done with being a contender just yet. That’s plenty of hyperbole for a good night in the ring.
Let’s go to the report card.
The Ledgers
Andre Ward
Age: 25
Title: None; 2004 Olympic Gold Medalist – Light Heavyweight
Height: 6’1
Average Weight - Five Most Recent Fights: 168.05 lbs.
Hails from: Oakland, California
Record: 18-0, 12 KO
Current/Former World Champions/Titlists Defeated: None
Vs.
Edison Miranda
Age: 28
Title: None
Height: 5’10
Average Weight - Five Most Recent Fights: 171.25 lbs.
Hails from: Buenaventura, Colombia
Record: 32-3, 28 KO
Current/Former World Champions/Titlists Faced in Defeat: 2 (Arthur Abraham, Kelly Pavlik)
Pre-Fight Grades
Speed: Ward B+; Miranda B
Power: Miranda A; Ward B-
Defense: Ward B; Miranda C
Intangibles: Ward B; Miranda B
When he turned pro in 2004, the skills and athletic talents Ward used in a decorated amateur career seemed to give him some problems. He was hurt against lesser fighters, dropped by the forgettable Darnell Boone. He was showing excellent speed but displaying a style requiring Roy Jones-like speed.
That’s a lot to ask of anyone.
In the last year, Ward has been appearing regularly on TV again after taking a step back, tightening up his defense and carrying out much more orthodox game plans. He’s looked the part of future World Champion because of it with enough world class speed to be assumed the victor against anything below the world class level from here forward.
Miranda is not, has never been, a speed guy but he’s not slow of hand either. If he gets his man hurt, he can open up in combination and finish an affair. If he can catch Ward with the right hand over the top, speed may not bail the former Olympian out.
That’s the great equalizer of course. Miranda can crack. Against anything less than the world’s two best Middleweights (Pavlik and Abraham account for all his losses), Miranda’s power has overcome greater experience and skill sets. Veterans Willie Gibbs and Howard Eastman proved fodder for his highlight reels; the talented Allan Green got him one step from a possible shot at the Middleweight crown.
Ward conversely is no knockout artist but his improved professional technique has meant stoppages in seven of his last eight. If he can begin to pile up punishment, Miranda can be worn down towards the stretch and a stoppage possible.
Miranda’s defense is nothing special. His sheer aggression can make guys miss and he keeps his gloves up to absorb often enough, but he also can be caught flush too often for comfort. Ward is getting hit less lately, but his competition wasn’t coming for his head the way Miranda will. Sound footwork will be the key for Ward’s defenses against Miranda.
As to intangible, the edge must go slowly to Ward even if there is less professional evidence to draw from. In his biggest fights, against Pavlik and Abraham, Miranda couldn’t find ways to win or adjust when behind. Ward, in a Middleweight’s body, jumped all the way to Light Heavyweight for the betterment of the team in Athens and won. He hasn’t lost in years dating back to the amateurs and that’s a mental plus.
The Pick
This is the fight which could make or break Ward. The thought here is he’ll get made. While he has shown chinks in his armor…well, who doesn’t on their way up? That he is matched with a man who has the danger factor of Miranda speaks volumes about where his people think he is. There could be some shaky moments, but look for Ward to capture a decision with a late knockdown in his favor.
Cliff Rold is a member of the Ring Magazine Ratings Advisory Panel and the Boxing Writers Association of America. He can be reached at roldboxing@hotmail.com