Boxing News Boxing News
Who is Miranda? It was five days before Demers was scheduled to fight Fulgencio Zuniga last Thursday that the Colombian boxer declined to fight due to health issues.
It was then that Dionisio Miranda was contacted to take Zuniga’s place. On July 27, Demers was told that his new opponent would be another Colombian who has a respectable record of 19-2-2.
Demers had no choice, he had to fight on August 1 no matter who the opponent. ESPN, as well as other big network broadcast companies, had scheduled Demers on their programming. This was quite an opportunity for promoter Groupe Yvon Michel to headline their talented boxer and let him shine in the spotlight.
How did Demers fall to an opponent who was supposed to be practice for the Canadian fighter?
For two months, Demers had been hard at work training to face Zuniga in an eliminator bout to determine the opponent for IBF Midleweight Champion Arthur Abraham. The anticipation of the fight had attracted the attention of many in the news media, as well as the spectators who packed La Gare Windsor in order to see Demers.
Even with Zuniga sick, the Groupe Yvon Michel had to find an opponent for Demers who was scheduled to fight in an international stage for ESPN.
How did it feel to loose the IBF international belt and the NABA title in front of such important media outlets? That was the question that was most asked to the Canadian boxer.
His response was: “I have to see the tape of the fight because right now, I am in disbelief”. Truth be told, Miranda deserved his victory. He was able to get inside on Demers and pressure the Canadian boxer with good speed and a powerful right hand.
Miranda looked good throughout the fight, while Demers looked tired and even took a knee in the ninth round. Demers is not used to fighting boxers with power. The last time he attempted to do so, he was beaten in the third round by Abraham. This time around, the decision was made by the judges who scored it 2 to 1.
I was able to ask Demers, if the short time he had to prepare for Miranda, affected his performance? Demers answered: “It was too little time. I prepared for two months to face a guy with a powerful left and five days ago I learn that I will face a guy with a power right. You know, these things change a way you prepare”.
Demers said he would take a month off to rest and then he will see what happens. In the meantime, Miranda must be getting calls left and right. His new title won’t last very long with him, especially if he faces a fighter like Zuniga in the near future.
