Boxing Preview: Edison Miranda – Willie Gibbs

HBO Boxing After Dark in Miami

Tonight, HBO’s Boxing after Dark series will be live from the Miccosukee Resort in Miami, FL. Scheduled for the telecast is a pair of fights that will showcase some of the best young prospects in the US. Not a bad way for HBO to end the year.

Edison Miranda vs. Willie Gibbs

Miranda, 26-1 (23), burst onto the boxing scene with his exciting stoppage of rugged veteran Howard Eastman this past March. However, it was his brutal war in September with IBF Middleweight Champion Arthur Abraham that solidified his place as a can’t miss contender as Miranda clearly showcased the grit and mantle that makes a champion. Despite breaking Abraham’s jaw, Miranda dropped a unanimous decision as a result of five point deductions. Many observers question the referee’s decision to penalize Miranda as many times as he did, but seeing as the bout was held in Germany against a German based champion, it was of little surprise.

Miranda comes to fight and contains explosive power in both hands. While his footwork and technique are still a work in progress, one cannot underestimate Miranda’s greatest asset; his toughness. Not surprising given the compelling back story of his survival as a homeless child in the streets of Columbia and his fight to overcome the adversity that would have doomed the great majority of us all.

Looking to solidify his position in the middleweight division, as well as upset the favored Miranda, is one Willie Gibbs, 20-1 (16). Better known as the cousin of former middleweight ruler Bernard Hopkins than his ring accomplishments, Gibbs is hoping to establish himself as a true player in the division. Gibbs has the tools to do this as well as an internal fortitude that seems to coincide with fighters forged in the tough Philly gyms.

You need proof? Grab a tape of his all out war with former contender Daniel Edouard from August, 2004. Completely drained from having to drop weight the day before the fight, Gibbs battled valiantly even after being floored twice before he was stopped in the fourth. Since that fight, he has won two of his last three by way of technical knockout. Gibbs now claims a renewed dedication to boxing and is looking to make a good impression on national television.

Jason Litzau vs. Jose Andres Hernandez

Looking for the next great American fighter? Allow me to introduce the undefeated junior lightweight Jason Litzau, 20-0 (18). Call me crazy, but Litzau has that mysterious “it” factor that promoters would give their right kidney for. In Litzau, you have a all action fighter with an interesting back story and just the right amount of bravado that intoxicates us fight fans.

The 23 year old from Minnesota has been on a tear of late, winning his last four bouts by knockout. Of his 20 professional fights, all but two have ended in knockouts although for the most part, his level of competition has been limited.

His promoter Main Events is banking on Litzau to bring back the rarest of boxing demographics, the Caucasian male 18-34. It’s not a bad gambit given Litzau’s affinity for all action bouts. In opponent Jose Andres Hernandez, 21-3 (13), Litzau faces a durable fight that should do well in his attempt to impressing the brass at HBO. With his come forward style and KO power, look for Litzau to win in decisive fashion.

Joel Julio vs. Francisco Campos

Boxing is a fickle sport. Six months ago, welterweight Joel Julio, 28-1 (26), was atop everyone’s “can’t miss prospect” list. Funny how one fight can cause all the hype in the world to dissipate faster than Whitney Houston’s public image. Six months ago, Julio was on the fast track to stardom. It seemed that every fight he was in ended in spectacular stoppage much to the praise of many a fight fan. Unfortunately for Julio, he ran into fellow undefeated prospect Carlos Quintana this past June.

Julio had no answer for the slick and experienced southpaw and after dropping the unanimous decision, many were decreeing that Julio had been exposed. The truth of the matter is, Quintana would give any boxer fits and if you recall, he did a pretty good job in his recent bout with hard hitting Miguel Cotto before succumbing to the power of the Caguas icon.

Not content to be written off as another fly by night sensation, Julio’s rebound fight was against the crafty and dangerous Cosme Rivera. Despite being dropped in the 12th round, Julio went on to win the fight via split decision. The simple truth of the matter is that Julio will always have trouble with slick counter punchers. Hopefully, his tutelage under renowned trainer Buddy McGirt will aid in addressing this shortcoming.

Fortunately, the young Columbian carries dynamite in his two hands and with a little fine tuning could really wreak some havoc in the welterweight division. In opponent Campos, 20-8-1 (11), you have nothing more than a career journeyman who has little chance against the hard hitting Columbian. Look for Julio to win by mid round stoppage as he moves closer to rekindling the hype that surrounded him before.