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Miranda VS Abraham - Not Just Another Rematch
Some rematches just have to happen, and the only surprise for anybody fortune enough to witness one of the most ferocious world middleweight title fights in recent years in Germany in 2006 is that this one has taken so long.
Arthur Abraham fought eight rounds with a grotesquely swollen jaw to overcome the then unbeaten, come-forward Edison Miranda and retain his IBF title by unanimous decision. Miranda, who lost five points for various infringements, cried foul.
Both fighters went their separate ways. The heavy-handed, Armenian-born Abraham followed up with four concussive knockout victories to establish himself as a legitimate middleweight champion on both sides of the Atlantic.
Miranda earned a WBC title eliminator against Kelly Pavlik, which he lost in round seven amid weight-making concerns before deciding his future lay at the 12st limit, moving up with two early wins.
Now Abraham and Miranda are taking the second instalment of their wild rivalry across the Atlantic to the Seminole Hard Rock Casino in Florida, where they will clash in a non-title fight on June 21.
Both feel they have points to prove after the lingering controversy of their first contest. Unbeaten Abraham (26-0, 21KOs) believes his victory would have been more conclusive had he not been badly hampered by injury.
"I could not show my true potential in my first fight because of my broken jaw," said Abraham. "I will make up for that this time out. Miranda had better prepare himself for a tough battle.
"It is an advantage for me that I already know Miranda. I know how I will fight against him and that is why I know how to prepare. It gives me even more security.
"I know that I have to be more active from the first bell on. It is also important to stay concentrated. Miranda is a guy who makes you pay for mistakes. But I will not give him the chance to do so."
Miranda's extraordinary story has been well-documented. He was abandoned by his parents when he was one month old and spent his childhood labouring in back-breaking jobs in the Colombian plantain fields.
He held a full-time job in construction at the age of 12 and also worked as a butcher before reaching adulthood. Beginning his boxing career at the age of 16, Miranda made up for lost time as he clambered quickly to the top.
He contests the result of the first fight, insisting his series of supposed infringements, which resulted in him being deducted two points on two separate occasions, were designed to gift the fight to the home favourite.
Miranda told 15rounds.com: "There is far from any love lost between us. I respect him for staying on his feet when I kept beating him up, but he knows he was given a gift that night.
"He is no more than a baby inside a crib in Germany. He has balls the size of a gorilla to come here and fight me.
"I never thought he would step into the ring with me again, so I respect his courage. But courage won't win him the fight."
Abraham's reasons for leaving his comfort zone back home are obvious. While America still raves prematurely about Kelly Pavlik, the 28-year-old is keen to claim his own slice of trans-Atlantic superstardom.
A similar outcome against Miranda will certainly enhance his bid to rise to the top of a 12st division still searching for its natural successor to Joe Calzaghe, who has underlined his intention to remain at the 175lbs limit.
Mikkel Kessler, who turned down a fight against Miranda, has to claw his way back to the top, while Britain's Carl Froch is still looking for the kind of defining fight to establish himself as the division's number one.
Abraham can steal a march on both of them against Miranda by exhibiting the kind of explosive, hard-hitting style that is sure to prove a big hit with American fight fans.
Abraham's long-time coach, Ulli Wegner, said: "I expect a very interesting fight and I am very optimistic. Arthur showed in the first fight how big his heart is and I am sure he will prove it again in America."
Arthur Abraham fought eight rounds with a grotesquely swollen jaw to overcome the then unbeaten, come-forward Edison Miranda and retain his IBF title by unanimous decision. Miranda, who lost five points for various infringements, cried foul.
Both fighters went their separate ways. The heavy-handed, Armenian-born Abraham followed up with four concussive knockout victories to establish himself as a legitimate middleweight champion on both sides of the Atlantic.
Miranda earned a WBC title eliminator against Kelly Pavlik, which he lost in round seven amid weight-making concerns before deciding his future lay at the 12st limit, moving up with two early wins.
Now Abraham and Miranda are taking the second instalment of their wild rivalry across the Atlantic to the Seminole Hard Rock Casino in Florida, where they will clash in a non-title fight on June 21.
Both feel they have points to prove after the lingering controversy of their first contest. Unbeaten Abraham (26-0, 21KOs) believes his victory would have been more conclusive had he not been badly hampered by injury.
"I could not show my true potential in my first fight because of my broken jaw," said Abraham. "I will make up for that this time out. Miranda had better prepare himself for a tough battle.
"It is an advantage for me that I already know Miranda. I know how I will fight against him and that is why I know how to prepare. It gives me even more security.
"I know that I have to be more active from the first bell on. It is also important to stay concentrated. Miranda is a guy who makes you pay for mistakes. But I will not give him the chance to do so."
Miranda's extraordinary story has been well-documented. He was abandoned by his parents when he was one month old and spent his childhood labouring in back-breaking jobs in the Colombian plantain fields.
He held a full-time job in construction at the age of 12 and also worked as a butcher before reaching adulthood. Beginning his boxing career at the age of 16, Miranda made up for lost time as he clambered quickly to the top.
He contests the result of the first fight, insisting his series of supposed infringements, which resulted in him being deducted two points on two separate occasions, were designed to gift the fight to the home favourite.
Miranda told 15rounds.com: "There is far from any love lost between us. I respect him for staying on his feet when I kept beating him up, but he knows he was given a gift that night.
"He is no more than a baby inside a crib in Germany. He has balls the size of a gorilla to come here and fight me.
"I never thought he would step into the ring with me again, so I respect his courage. But courage won't win him the fight."
Abraham's reasons for leaving his comfort zone back home are obvious. While America still raves prematurely about Kelly Pavlik, the 28-year-old is keen to claim his own slice of trans-Atlantic superstardom.
A similar outcome against Miranda will certainly enhance his bid to rise to the top of a 12st division still searching for its natural successor to Joe Calzaghe, who has underlined his intention to remain at the 175lbs limit.
Mikkel Kessler, who turned down a fight against Miranda, has to claw his way back to the top, while Britain's Carl Froch is still looking for the kind of defining fight to establish himself as the division's number one.
Abraham can steal a march on both of them against Miranda by exhibiting the kind of explosive, hard-hitting style that is sure to prove a big hit with American fight fans.
Abraham's long-time coach, Ulli Wegner, said: "I expect a very interesting fight and I am very optimistic. Arthur showed in the first fight how big his heart is and I am sure he will prove it again in America."
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