And another Abraham-Miranda thread...well mostly Abraham...

Abraham poised for rematch!

It's much better to have a broken jaw and the world championship title than just a broken jaw...;D


http://www.fightnews.com/abrahamworkout1.jpg http://www.fightnews.com/abrahamworkout4.jpg


Although IBF middleweight champion Arthur Abraham (26-0, 21 KOs) is one of the most talented and respected world champions in boxing, he has had little exposure in the United States. That will change this weekend when "King" Arthur and electrifying power-puncher Edison Miranda meet in an epic rematch of their legendary September 2006 clash, which took place in Wetzlar, Germany and has never been seen on U.S. television until SHOWTIME aired it this week.
The bout will be nothing less than a grudge match, as both fighters have been jawing at each other through the press ever since their controversial first fight. Abraham took the high road during an exclusive interview with Fightnews.com on Monday.
"Miranda has a very big mouth but there's nothing behind it," stated Abraham. "We are people who respect our opponents. We're serious and don't have a big mouth. And we have something behind it."
Abraham's IBF title will not be on the line for this fight, as the champion has agreed to fight Miranda at a catch weight of 166 lbs. "Me and my management wanted to fight Miranda again but Miranda cannot make the middleweight limit, so we arranged 166 lbs," said the unbeaten German. "It's a little heavier, but it's not a problem for me. It's not a big advantage for Miranda but it's a little advantage for me because I don't have to pay attention to my weight."

Miranda, of course, broke Abraham's jaw in their first fight and Abraham somehow persevered through eight rounds of excruciating pain to retain his title via unanimous decision. "I never thought of giving up," Abraham commented. "As a champion, you have to defy pain. It's much better to have a broken jaw and the world championship title than just a broken jaw."
He said he knew his jaw was broken the moment it happened and didn't seem to particularly enjoy remembering it. "I recognized it immediately," said Abraham. "It was hard [to continue], of course but I'm a man who never gives up and that's why I fight to the end. I would have liked to have knocked him out in the fifth round and then stop but...(pauses) I've forgotten the injury and have four fights behind me and won all through knockout."
With a win over Miranda, the plan is for Abraham to fight his mandatory against the Giovanni Lorenzo-Raul Marquez winner in Germany, then take aim at a mega-showdown back in the U.S. with WBC/WBO middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik. "Pavlik is a very good and serious boxer. He has a very good technique and he uses his intelligence, he has a good head on his shoulders. This is why we have a big interest in fighting Pavlik and becoming a super champion," said King Arthur.

But first things first.
"It's important that I win on Saturday. Whether it's a knockout or a decision -- I must win!"






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