Boxing News Boxing News
Two number one ranked middleweight contenders will clash for top challenger status in the division when Edison Miranda (IBF top rated contender) and Kelly Pavlik (ranked first in the WBC) collide in “The Right to Fight” on Saturday, May 19 at FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee.
The thrilling middleweight contest will be the co-feature on the Jermain Taylor vs. Cory Spinks “Border Battle” middleweight championship card.
The main event and co-feature bring the four top middleweights to Memphis for a thrilling night of boxing. The once-beaten Miranda (28-1, 24 KO’s) scored an impressive unanimous decision over Allan Green on March 3 to emerge as a leading force in the division.
The undefeated powerful puncher Pavlik (30-0, 27 KO’s) is coming off a thrilling eighth round knockout victory over Jose Luis Zertuche, knocking the Mexican warrior down three times, to gain top rated status in his HBO debut.
Both fighters are bona fide knockout artists with 51 KO’s between them. Miranda is a native of Columbia now fighting out of Puerto Rico, while Pavlik is a native son of Youngstown, Ohio. The Right to Fight will be presented by DiBella Entertainment, Top Rank, Inc. and Seminole Warriors Boxing.
“Kelly is Hagler-like with his pressure, power and a will to win,” said Bob Arum, CEO of Top Rank. “Kelly is anxious to get into the ring against Edison Miranda.”
“Kelly Pavlik is a worthy opponent and a hard puncher, so the fans should see a great fight,” said Edison Miranda. “Unfortunately for him, I hit harder than he does, and when I do land, I’ll make “The Ghost’ disappear.”
DiBella Entertainment’s unbeaten Ronald Hearns (13-0, 11 KO’s), yet another middleweight star on the rise, will also appear on the card. The “Motor City Cobra,” fighting out of Michigan, is the son of the legendary champion Thomas “Hitman” Hearns.
Tickets are priced at $550, $450, $250, $125, $95, $45, and $25 for students, seniors, and active military and will go on sale on Wednesday, April 4 at 10:00 AM Central time.
Tickets are available at the FedExForum Box Office, All Ticketmaster Outlets, www.ticketmaster.com or charge by phone at 901-525-1515. For more information, visit www.fedexforum.com.
