SecondsOut
June 22 2008
Abraham Leaves No Doubt With Knockout Of Miranda
Arthur Abraham wins: Tom Casino/Showtime
By Michael Norby: Undefeated IBF middleweight champion Arthur Abraham
made an explosive US debut on Saturday night, after he knocked out
Colombian puncher Edison Miranda in the fourth round of their much
anticipated rematch at The Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in
Hollywood, Florida.
Armenian born German Abraham 27-0 (22) patiently waited for an
opportunity to land his vaunted power as Miranda 30-3 (26)
attacked. He covered up for much of the first three rounds – allowing
Miranda to pound away without landing cleanly before exploding in the
fourth with both hands in a concentrated assault that seen Miranda
fall three times before referee Telis Assimenios waved the fight off.
The contest, televised live on Showtime, was made at 166lbs which many
thought would benefit now super middleweight Miranda. It was Abraham,
however, who was clearly the stronger of the two combatants, taking
advantage of Miranda’s desperate and ardent pursuit of revenge to make
a massive statement to a worldwide audience and, more importantly, to
middleweight kingpin Kelly Pavlik.
Both guys pawed out jabs to begin the first round, but it was
Abraham’s that landed more impressively and he scored well with that
punch in the first minute. Miranda landed the first hard punch of the
fight – a right hand to the head and followed with a left hook moments
later. Abraham responded with a borderline left hook and Miranda ended
the frame with a glancing right hand that forced the German to
retreat. This was not the fiery beginning that had been predicted, but
it was an interesting clash of styles as Abraham backed off looking
for opportunities whilst Miranda came forward menacingly.
Miranda continued to come forward in the second and punched to the
body to begin the round. He missed with a sloppy left hook seconds
later but pinned Abraham against the ropes at the minute mark `
punching the arms of the European as he covered up. Abraham was doing
little in this round, but he was blocking most of what was thrown at
him. A low blow in the final minute forced a respite for the German `
echoing the controversial first fight and drawing boos from the crowd,
although the punch was indeed south of the border. That didn’t stop
Miranda from throwing downstairs and he thumped a left hook to the
ribcage of Abraham to end the round.
Abraham got his jab going a little more often in the third, but again
it was Miranda who was the aggressor as the middleweight champion
continued to cover up. The German finally landed with real power in
the opening minute with a huge right hand to the head but Miranda
continued on the front foot – connecting to the body in spurts
throughout the round. Abraham nailed Miranda again in the final minute
with another right hand – a punch that briefly buckled the Colombian
and a perfect two punch combination, ending with a hard left hook,
provided Miranda with a further taste of the German’s power.
Miranda again found his punches pinging off the arms and gloves of
Abraham at the beginning of the fourth. The German was clearly waiting
for an opening and he found one in the first minute when a right
hand/left hook sequence sent Miranda to the floor. The Colombian’s
legs were unsteady and Abraham attacked fiercely – landing with a
combination upstairs before dumping his man to the canvas again with a
stupendous left hook. Miranda again got up, but Abraham was mighty and
there was just too much time on the clock. With just under two minutes
remaining in the round, another left hook knocked down the Colombian,
prompting referee Telis Assimenios to stop the fight.
Time of stoppage: 1:13 RD4
Photos at
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