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All World Contender Edison “Pantera” Miranda wanted when he and his promoter Warriors Boxing’s Leon Margules agreed to a co-promotional contract with Goossen Tutor Promotions and renowned trainer Joe Goossen three months ago was a second opportunity to challenge for a World Championship title fight. He didn’t have to wait very long!
After annihilating former Mexican Super Middleweight Champion Francisco Sierra in just one round in his October 22 debut with his new team to win the WBO NABO Super Middleweight Title, the 28-year old Colombian native’s next fight will come against WBO 168-pound World Champion Robert Stieglitz.
“I didn’t think a title shot would come this quick,” said Miranda (33-4, 29 KOs). “I thought it would take longer. I am really happy to be fighting for a world title.”
Bordelandhalle in Magdeburg, Sachsen-Anhalt, Germany will be the site of the January 9, 2010 event.
In his first attempt to win a world title, Miranda, who now lives and trains in Los Angeles, was 26-0 when he lost in his bid at the IBF Middleweight Championship belt worn by Arthur Abraham by decision — coincidently in Germany – back in 2006. In that hotly-contested bout, the heavy-handed Miranda broke the champion’s jaw, but it was Miranda who was left with a bad taste in his mouth that he carries with him still today from losing that controversial decision that even the hometown fans believed he won.
“I felt very awkward going to Germany because that is not my home, but the home of my opponent. Everybody knows I won that fight. I feel like the only way I am going to win over there is by a knockout. And that is what I plan to do.”
Ranked #5 by the WBO and #8 in the IBF and WBC, the big-punching Miranda has undergone a near complete makeover in his training methods and boxing style under the tutelage of Joe Goossen, while maintaining his punching power.
“Miranda has taken to our gym ethic which is very demanding,” Joe Goossen stated. “By his own admission he never came even close to putting this type of effort into the gym. Edison is really a superior athlete, but he was an athlete in hiding because as much power and strength that he brought into the ring, he either neglected or didn’t learn some of the more subtle things to use in a fight, which is using both hands and not just relying on the one big right hand. Now he can match skills with skills, not just power against skills. He is going to bring a more complete package to the table in January. I am very excited!”
For the 28-year old Russian-born Stieglitz (36-2, 22 KOs) taking on Miranda in Magdeberg will be a homecoming. Now living there, Stieglitz will be making his first defense of the title he won in Hungary back in August when he stopped Karoly Balzsay in the 11th round. His losses came against Alejandro Berrio in a battle for the vacant IBF Super Middleweight Title in his 30th pro fight in March 2007 and Librado Andrade in an IBF Title Eliminator in March of last year.
“I am so happy to be able to defend my title for the first time in my hometown,” said Stieglitz. “I know Miranda is a tough guy who has knocked out many fighters. But I have worked long and hard to win my world title and there is no way he is going to win here – let alone knock me out.”
Promoter Dan Goossen feels that the transition of Miranda from a one-punch fighter to complete boxer with lethal power in both hands will not only serve him well against Stieglitz, but will also align him with the other great stars making up arguably boxing’s most talented division – the super middleweights.
“I’m excited, along with my partner Leon Margules of Warrior’s Boxing, to see if Miranda will indeed show another weapon or two to his already lethal knockout power,” Goossen exclaimed. “If he does, and gets a win over Stieglitz, he would immediately put himself back into any talk about the fully loaded Super Middleweight division.”
