Early life
Miranda was born in 1981 in
Buenaventura, Colombia and was abandoned by his mother when he was one month old.
[1] At age nine, Miranda escaped from his caretakers to live in the harsh street life of Colombia. Miranda went on a search to find his mother and at a construction site, he ended up confronting his mother's brother. The uncle he never knew told him that if Miranda was really the little boy his sister gave away, then he should have a birthmark on his leg. Miranda unveiled the 2-inch long circular proof. The man led him to his mother's new home, only to be abandoned again by his mother. By the time he was 12, he was working in the plantain fields. The next year, he had a full-time construction job. By the time he was 14, he was working as a cattle butcher. At age 15, Miranda took up boxing, training for a half-year before starting his amateur career.
[2] Miranda won 128 out of 132 fights, winning four Colombian national titles. Miranda won a bronze medal in the 2000 Olympic Trials in
Argentina, but failed to qualify for the
2000 Colombian Olympic team.
[3]
Professional career
Middleweight
132 fights later, Miranda became a professional boxer, but his journey was only halfway over. March 2002 saw Miranda's arrival in the
Dominican Republic. Having been promised a shot at going to the United States to fight the top middleweight fighters in the world, Miranda continued with what he's best at – fighting – both in and out of the ring. Struggling to make ends meet, left homeless and hungry by an unfair contract, Miranda left the Dominican Republic and returned to Barranquilla on
December 24,
2004. With the support of friends, he fulfilled his dream of making it as a boxer in the United States when he signed with Warrior’s Boxing Promotions and then had his first American fight in
Hollywood, Florida on
May 20,
2005. In that fight, Miranda defeated Sam Reese by unanimous decision.
IBF title eliminator
Miranda fought
Howard Eastman on
March 24,
2006, at the
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida. Miranda got off to a slow start but showed his tremendous power when consecutive right hands hurt Eastman in the fifth round. The experienced Eastman survived the round and came back strong by hurting Miranda in the next round. Miranda kept throwing his right hand, and in the seventh, he had Eastman hurt badly with a clean right cross to the jaw, followed by a left uppercut and then a vicious right uppercut that nailed Eastman under the chin. The referee stopped the fight, making Miranda the first man to stop Eastman. The victory made Miranda the mandatory challenger for
IBF champion
Arthur Abraham.
[4]
IBF title fight
Miranda fought Abraham on
September 23,
2006 in
Wetzlar,
Germany. The fight was not without controversy. After three competitive rounds, Miranda broke Abraham's jaw with a right hand in round four. In round five, Miranda headbutted Abraham on the right side of his face. Abraham was seen turning away hurt with his mouth agape. Referee
Randy Neumann stopped the fight and during the five minute break, the doctor recommended to stop the fight to what he saw as a broken jaw from a legal punch. The referee decided to continue the fight and deducted two points from Miranda. Abraham fought the reminder of the fight with a visibly broken jaw that was grossly swollen at the end of the fight. In the seventh round, Miranda was docked two more points for low blows that appeared to be on the beltline. Then in the eleventh round, Miranda landed a body shot that hurt Abraham. Abraham signaled that it was low and the referee took another point form Miranda. Miranda lost the fight by unanimous decision. Without the deduction of any points he would have lost the fight by MD only.
[5]
Fights with Gibbs & Green
On
December 16,
2006, Miranda fought Willie Gibbs in
Miami, Florida. Miranda landed a strong right hand that badly hurt Gibbs, causing him to stagger back into the ropes. Miranda then unloaded a volley of punches, concluding with a right hand followed by a left hook that connected flush on Gibbs' chin, sending him down and out in the first round.
[6]
On
March 3,
2007, Miranda won a unanimous decision over
Allan Green at the
Roberto Clemente Coliseum in
San Juan, Puerto Rico. Green knocked down Miranda with a left hook that landed on Miranda's chin in round eight. Despite that, Miranda dominated most of the fight and knocked Green down twice in the final round. The fight was fought at a catchweight of 162 lbs, foreshadowing Miranda's problems at making weight.
[7]
WBC title eliminator
On
May 19,
2007, after losing nearly every round, Miranda was brutally stopped in the seventh round by
Kelly Pavlik at the
FedEx Forum in
Memphis, Tennessee. After getting knocked down the first time in round six, Miranda spit out his mouthpiece, leading to a one-point deduction. It did not help him survive, since he was knocked down again in round six and once more in round seven. Referee
Steve Smoger halted the fight with Miranda still down.
[8] The fight was a
WBC title eliminator with the winner getting a shot at middleweight champion
Jermain Taylor. Pavlik went on to beat Taylor.
Super middleweight
After the loss to Pavlik, Miranda moved up to
super middleweight and fought Henry Porras on
October 30,
2007, at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida. Miranda started out slowly, but soon found both his range and rhythm. Porras was a game opponent in the first two rounds, but as Miranda became more comfortable, he found openings in Porras’ defense. Miranda unloaded a powerful barrage of punches on a defenseless Porras to force the referee to step in and stop the fight in the fifth round.
[9]
On
January 11,
2008, Miranda viciously knocked out
David Banks in the third round at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida. The fight began with two feeling out rounds that saw Miranda use a consistent left jab to set up rights over the top and underneath of Banks' guard. In round three, Miranda landed a big right hand that caused Banks to collapse backwards and fall awkwardly halfway through the ropes.
[10] The knockout was named "Knockout of the Year" by
ESPN.com's Dan Rafael.
[11]
Rematch with Abraham
On
June 21,
2008, at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida, Miranda lost to Arthur Abraham by fourth round technical knockout. The fight took place at a catch weight of , so Abraham's IBF middleweight title was not on the line. Abraham spent much of the first and second rounds with his gloves high to his head and his back against the ring ropes, while Miranda threw power punches. Abraham blocked many of Miranda’s punches, but a low blow drew a warning to Miranda and a brief rest period for Abraham. Abraham began to open up in the third round, landing right and left hands to Miranda’s head. About 30 seconds into the fourth round, Abraham landed a clean left hook to the temple that knocked Miranda down. He got to his feet, but was caught by a sweeping left hook that knocked Miranda down again. Abraham ended the fight seconds later with a third left hand to the head that sent Miranda down again, bringing an automatic stoppage via the three-knockdown rule.
[12]
==Professional record==
|-
|align="center" colspan=8|
30 Wins
(26 knockouts),
3 Losses
|-
| align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|
Res.
| align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|
Opponent
| align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|
Type
| align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|
Rd., Time
| align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|
Date
| align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|
Location
| align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|
Notes
|-align=center
|style="background: #ffdddd; color: black;" class="table-no2" |Loss
|align=left|
Andre Ward
|Unanimous Decision
|12
(12)
|
2009-05-16
|align=left|
Oakland, California
|
|-align=center
|style="background: #ffdddd; color: black;" class="table-no2" |Loss
|align=left|
Arthur Abraham
|TKO
|4
(12), 1:13
|
2008-06-21
|align=left|
Hollywood, Florida
|
|-align=center
|style="background: #ddffdd; color: black;" class="table-yes2" |Win
|align=left|
David Banks
|KO
|3
(10), 1:15
|
2008-01-11
|align=left|
Hollywood, Florida
|
|-align=center
|style="background: #ddffdd; color: black;" class="table-yes2" |Win
|align=left|
Henry Porras
|TKO
|5
(10), 2:45
|
2007-10-30
|align=left|
Hollywood, Florida
|
|-align=center
|style="background: #ffdddd; color: black;" class="table-no2" |Loss
|align=left|
Kelly Pavlik
|TKO
|7
(12), 1:54
|
2007-05-19
|align=left|
Memphis, Tennessee
|align=left|
WBC middleweight title eliminator
|-align=center
|style="background: #ddffdd; color: black;" class="table-yes2" |Win
|align=left|
Allan Green
|Decision
(unan.)
|10
|
2007-03-03
|align=left|
San Juan, Puerto Rico
|
|-align=center
|style="background: #ddffdd; color: black;" class="table-yes2" |Win
|align=left| Willie Gibbs
|KO
|1
(10), 2:59
|
2006-12-16
|align=left|
Miami, Florida
|
|-align=center
|style="background: #ffdddd; color: black;" class="table-no2" |Loss
|align=left|
Arthur Abraham
|Decision
(unan.)
|12
|
2006-09-23
|align=left|
Wetzlar, Germany
|align=left|
Abraham retains IBF middleweight title
|-align=center
|style="background: #ddffdd; color: black;" class="table-yes2" |Win
|align=left|
Howard Eastman
|TKO
|7
(12), 2:33
|
2006-03-24
|align=left|
Hollywood, Florida
|align=left|
IBF middleweight title eliminator
|-align=center
|style="background: #ddffdd; color: black;" class="table-yes2" |Win
|align=left| Sherwin Davis
|KO
|3
(12), 0:37
|
2005-10-21
|align=left|
Hollywood, Florida
|align=left|
Retained WBO Latino and NABA middleweight titles
|-align=center
|style="background: #ddffdd; color: black;" class="table-yes2" |Win
|align=left|
Hilario Guzman
|Decision
(unan.)
|6
|
2005-08-26
|align=left|
Hollywood, Florida
|align=left|
|-align=center
|style="background: #ddffdd; color: black;" class="table-yes2" |Win
|align=left|
Jose Varela
|Decision
(unan.)
|12
|
2005-06-16
|align=left|
Coconut Creek, Florida
|align=left|
Won vacant WBO Latino, vacant NABA, and vacant IBF Latino middleweight titles
|-align=center
|style="background: #ddffdd; color: black;" class="table-yes2" |Win
|align=left| Sam Reese
|Decision
(unan.)
|10
|
2005-05-20
|align=left|
Hollywood, Florida
|
|-align=center
|style="background: #ddffdd; color: black;" class="table-yes2" |Win
|align=left|
Saul Torres
|KO
|1
(10), 2:59
|
2005-02-26
|align=left|
Barranquilla, Colombia
|
|-align=center
|style="background: #ddffdd; color: black;" class="table-yes2" |Win
|align=left|
Jonalis Reyes
|KO
|1
|
2004-12-11
|align=left|
San Pedro, Dominican Republic
|
|-align=center
|style="background: #ddffdd; color: black;" class="table-yes2" |Win
|align=left|
Darmel Castillo
|TKO
|5
(10), 1:14
|
2003-08-29
|align=left|
Panama City, Panama
|
|-align=center
|style="background: #ddffdd; color: black;" class="table-yes2" |Win
|align=left|
Feliberto Alvarez
|KO
|3
(8)
|
2003-07-28
|align=left|
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
|
|-align=center
|style="background: #ddffdd; color: black;" class="table-yes2" |Win
|align=left|
Hector Rodriguez
|KO
|1
|
2003-07-25
|align=left|
Moca, Dominican Republic
|
|-align=center
|style="background: #ddffdd; color: black;" class="table-yes2" |Win
|align=left|
Meregildo De Los Santos
|KO
|1
|
2003-07-20
|align=left|
Cotui, Dominican Republic
|
|-align=center
|style="background: #ddffdd; color: black;" class="table-yes2" |Win
|align=left|
Manuel De la Rosa
|KO
|2
|
2003-06-14
|align=left|
La Romana, Dominican Republic
|
|-align=center
|style="background: #ddffdd; color: black;" class="table-yes2" |Win
|align=left|
Jose Luis Robles
|KO
|1
|
2003-04-15
|align=left|
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
|
|-align=center
|style="background: #ddffdd; color: black;" class="table-yes2" |Win
|align=left|
Hector Arroyo
|KO
|1
|
2003-04-10
|align=left|
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
|
|-align=center
|style="background: #ddffdd; color: black;" class="table-yes2" |Win
|align=left|
Roberto Jimenez
|KO
|1
|
2003-04-01
|align=left|
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
|
|-align=center
|style="background: #ddffdd; color: black;" class="table-yes2" |Win
|align=left|
Joselito Del Rosario
|KO
|1
(10)
|
2003-03-21
|align=left|
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
|
|-align=center
|style="background: #ddffdd; color: black;" class="table-yes2" |Win
|align=left|
Rafael De la Cruz
|KO
|2
|
2002-06-15
|align=left|
San Cristobal, Dominican Republic
|
|-align=center
|style="background: #ddffdd; color: black;" class="table-yes2" |Win
|align=left|
Joselito Del Rosario
|KO
|1
|
2002-06-12
|align=left|
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
|
|-align=center
|style="background: #ddffdd; color: black;" class="table-yes2" |Win
|align=left|
Nelson Gil
|KO
|1
|
2002-06-05
|align=left|
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
|
|-align=center
|style="background: #ddffdd; color: black;" class="table-yes2" |Win
|align=left|
Jose Chiquillo
|KO
|1
|
2001-12-14
|align=left|
Cartagena, Colombia
|
|-align=center
|style="background: #ddffdd; color: black;" class="table-yes2" |Win
|align=left|
Alfonso Mosquera
|TKO
|1
(8), 3:00
|
2001-10-05
|align=left|
Panama City, Panama
|
|-align=center
|style="background: #ddffdd; color: black;" class="table-yes2" |Win
|align=left|
Fidel Sarmiento
|KO
|2
|
2001-08-24
|align=left|
Barranquilla, Colombia
|
|-align=center
|style="background: #ddffdd; color: black;" class="table-yes2" |Win
|align=left|
Saul Torres
|KO
|1
|
2001-05-18
|align=left|
Barranquilla, Colombia
|
|-align=center
|style="background: #ddffdd; color: black;" class="table-yes2" |Win
|align=left|
Vidal Diaz
|TKO
|1
(4)
|
2001-04-27
|align=left|
Barranquilla, Colombia
|
|-align=center
|style="background: #ddffdd; color: black;" class="table-yes2" |Win
|align=left|
Luis Blandon
|KO
|1
(6)
|
2001-03-30
|align=left|
Barranquilla, Colombia
|
|-align=center
|style="background: #ddffdd; color: black;" class="table-yes2" |Win
|align=left|
Jose Chiquillo
|TKO
|1
|
2001-03-16
|align=left|
Barranquilla, Colombia
|
References
- One on One With The Amazing Edison Miranda
- Tessitore, Joe (2007-03-21). Abandoned child never lost sight of his will to prevail. ESPN.com. Retrieved on 2007-12-13.
- Edison Miranda Bio
- Miranda TKO's Eastman
- Robbery in Germany!
- Miranda Blasts Out Gibbs In One
- Hard Hitting Miranda Grinds Down Green
- Kelly Pavlik KO7 Edison Miranda
- Miranda scores 5th-round TKO over Porras
- Miranda Blasts Out Banks
- Miranda right turns out lights on Banks, earns KOY honors
- Abraham batters Miranda