Miranda vs. Pavlik: Assault and battery

Edison "Pantera" Miranda, 28-2, 24 KO's, should have focused on his opponent rather than Jermain Taylor. Miranda talked too much in the build up to the fight. Trash-talking has become a part of boxing, but Edison needs lessons. He doesn't do it well.


As for Kelly Pavlik, 31-0 with 28 KO's, he kept quiet and focused, letting Miranda do the talking and putting pressure on himself to back up the talk.


Kelly had a sound and studied strategy, backing up the tough Columbian and hitting him with crunching body shots and savage straight rights. "Pantera," who does not possess the greatest technical skills, was unable to fight backing up. He was confused from the get-go as Pavlik shocked the spectators by his dominance (and by his ability to handle Miranda's best shots). As Miranda's eyes began to close, it became "when" and no longer "if." The "when" occurred in the sixth round as Kelly brutalized Edison with accurate and deadly straight rights and left hooks. He finally sent him to the canvas twice. In the seventh, "The Ghost" decisively closed the show by stopping the highly touted Miranda with a savage assault on the ropes, as tolerant Steve Smoger called a halt to the assault and battery.


Kelly Pavlik, with a 90% KO percentage, is the real McCoy and is now the top ranked middleweight in the world. In the tradition of Ray Mancini and Harry Arroyo, Youngstown, Ohio has itself another top fighter, and if you happen to be from Youngstown, this was very fun and exciting fight to watch.


"Kelly Pavlik is a worthy opponent and a hard puncher, so the fans should see a great fight," Unfortunately for him, I hit harder than he does, and when I do land, I'll make 'The Ghost' disappear." Edison Miranda