Andre Ward Outclasses Edison Miranda
Sunday May 17, 2009
2004 Olympic gold medalist Andre Ward (19-0) passed the biggest test of his pro career with a one-sided unanimous decision over hard-hitting Edison Miranda (32-4). Ward faced some early adversity when an unintentional head butt opened a cut over his left eye in the first round. Ward, however, was clearly the superior boxer and had little difficulty neutralizing the dangerous but one-dimensional Miranda. The judges all favored Ward: 119-109, 119-109 and a too close 116-112.
Ward, 25, has been brought along slowly as a pro but finally appears prepared to take on the best fighters in the 168-pound division. A title shot later this year against WBC champ Carl Froch, who dramatically KO'd former champ Jermain Taylor last month, remains a good possibility.
Comments
It was a very strange fight that showed good and bad in both fighters. Miranda has almost no boxing skills and no fight plan. He swings and hopes he lands big shots, but in the face of a guy who can move, like Ward, will have just a puncher’s chance in any fight against a talented guy. Mirand is also really good for maybe five rounds and then he has issues, mostly because he spends those rounds swinging at air; every shot is a hard shot. I suspect his ego is too big and his brain too small to take instructions well. If he could figure out how to box, he would be better than he is.
Ward moves and has boxing skills, but he really is not a good puncher against top guys, and he gets hit way too much. In a fight with good boxers, he would not last. But he clearly won the fight against Miranda, and fought a smart fight.