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Edison: A Study In Power
MON March 27, BUSTER PARIS - …and from out of nowhere Miranda lands an enormous right hand setting up Eastman in the corner and against the ropes. Miranda is throwing bombs – giant rights and explosive left uppers followed by cascading shrapnel of lefts and rights - some landing – some missing, but all causing Eastman’s head to quickly react and, in the end, awkwardly move that 1 time – where the neck goes weak.
Referee Brian Garry has seen enough and steps in to stop the fight. It’s Howard Eastman’s first loss via a knockout and it’s a message to the Middleweight division that Edison Miranda has passed his first test and yes – there’s something wicked in his gloves.
March 24 2006 at the Seminole Hard Rock Arena in Hollywood, Florida – ESPN’s Friday Night Fights gave us Howard “The Battersea Bomber” Eastman (now 40 wins & 4 losses) versus Edison “Pantera” Miranda (still undefeated with 26 wins / 23 via KO) and it was for one of the alphabet’s title eliminator matches – meaning the winner goes on to fight for a title.
It turned out to be an exciting fight even with its snoozer of an opening – here’s a brief round by round.
Round 1 started off very slow – in the first minute there were only 10 light and almost meaningless punches tossed about. Edison clearly was the more aggressive fighter and chased a circling and moving Howard around the ring. Howard threw his first combination with 25 seconds remaining in the round.
Round 2 – Eastman now standing his ground began jabbing in and flicking Miranda’s jab to the side – really nice defense – he gets Miranda in the corner at one point and pounds away. This round Eastman showed us that he’s the elder statesman and the fighter with more ring savvy.
The tone was now set that this was to be a match of youth vs. experience – not in the corny “young cub versus old lion” way, but in youthful aggression and passion vs. the vast experience and technical proficiency that comes from years of facing great champions.
Round 3 started off at a fast pace with both fighters throwing jabs and then tangling up and clinching. At about 1:17 remaining Edison lands a great left and momentarily wobbles Howard. Edison tries to capitalize on the moment, but winds up hitting low and the ref breaks up the action, then soon after with about 23 seconds remaining Howard lands a giant left hook and stuns Edison.
Each round has been getting better and better.
Round 4 would be a great round with so much back and forth action that you begin to forget about the horrible first round. It began with Eastman missing a fight ending left hook, but still managing to drive Miranda back to the ropes, they tussle and then Miranda begins to drive Eastman towards the ropes on the other side of the ring. Edison has a moment where he somewhat taunts Howard to come in and get him and Eastman obliges and gets Miranda on the ropes where they again trade.
Edison steers Howard back into a corner and the reoccurring words of the referee for him to stop holding Eastman behind the head are again thrown at Miranda, as it has been from earlier on and would be the entire fight.
Rounds 5 and 6 were pretty much the same as round 4 – Edison Miranda is clearly the aggressor, is offensively minded and is one tuff and strong fighter - and Howard Eastman is incredibly cunning and resourceful - his defense is without doubt the best of the two men in the ring right now and the best that Edison has ever faced.
Both fighters get hurt at one point in these two rounds. In the 5th with like 30 seconds remaining and honestly – out of nowhere and completely off “script” from what had been a battle of left hands – Miranda lands a crushing right that puts Eastman on shaky legs.
Then near the middle to end of the 6th Howard hurts Edison with a right, but then Edison lands a brutal left hook, but Howard nonetheless proceeds to pound that right again and Miranda is off balance - and is hurt - and then taking the wind right out of the fights and the crowds sail is the sound of the bell ringing - ending the round.
Round 7 - Expectations are that Howard will go right at Edison and pick up where he left off. The round starts as a brawl. Both are throwing hard and heavy. At about 1:30 Eastman has Miranda on the ropes and thunderously landing blows. Miranda lands an ominous right hand of his own and sets up Howard against the ropes. He’s bombing Eastman with a barrage of fists, some missing and some deeply impacting Howard’s chances of getting out of that corner. Then action and time itself speeds up. Miranda is really going to work on Eastman and for the first time in the bout looks like a seasoned pro. This is obviously what Edison does best.
At the 35 seconds mark Howard stumbles forward moving Edison back and off him, the next 4 seconds seem frozen in time…then at 31 ticks to go “Pantera” pounces – forcing Eastman back into the corner while landing an enormous right hand and then a left upper cut that turns Howard’s neck into overcooked pasta.
That’s it – referee Brian Garry stops the fight.
Regardless of whether or not the stoppage was too soon - it’s the very first stoppage for Howard Eastman, his first loss via a knockout.
Looking at Howard’s record right now and seeing 3 losses in row is actually misleading…or is it? – In any case that’s for a different conversation, but I am interested in your thoughts.
This was a fantastic fight for Miranda. He truly pulled this one out in great fashion and ended it in a manner he does best, by overwhelming his opponent with power and heavy hands.
Is he the next great Middleweight? - It’s a little too soon to jump on the Edison Miranda bandwagon…well, actually again I’ve got to ask…is it? Is it too soon?
This wasn’t just another slab of meat offered up to “Pantera” – this was Howard Eastman! – who among other great accomplishments is Ring Magazine’s number 5 Middleweight and arguably has one of the best defenses in the Middleweight division.
That’s nothing to sneeze at – Miranda was able to break through the Eastman defense and remember not many others have – and almost more importantly Edison did something no one else – not even the legendary Bernard Hopkins has done - he stopped Eastman by TKO.
Edison Miranda is a young, talented, likable and interesting (inside and outside the ring) warrior – and – he is obviously powerful. He passed his first big Middleweight test with flying colors. Keep in mind though - he does need some work and polishing - I don’t think he’s ready for the likes of Jermain Taylor or Winky Wright…yet, but next I’d like to see him fight Kingsley Ikeke, Arthur Abraham and/or Felix Strum - then I'd love to see how he does against the all too often underrated "King" Sam Soliman.
Right now Edison Miranda is a good fighter verging on being a very good fighter and you have to say that he is truly a contender in the division – not just the alphabet soup, but for the whole enchilada.
Buster Paris can be reached at: bparis@talkingboxing.com - and always enjoys receiving your thoughts, comments and questions
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