Fight that never happened 2007: Jermain Taylor vs Edison Miranda

So, now that we're almost out of 2012, and the dust on the careers of JT and Edison Miranda have pretty much settled to a degree(meaning, things aren't likely to get better for either of them). How do you suspect this fight would have gone down back in 2007 (say, before Miranda fought Pavlik).

The momentum for both guys (prior to Mirandas fight with Pavlik) were going in opposite directions. Even though Taylor was winning, he wasn't looking particularly impressive. He was struggling with smaller fighters. And even though he drew with Winky Wright, Winky was getting long in the tooth and JT was expected to win and some consider the decision suspect. And...he was gassing in fights consistently before Pavlik came along to take full advantage of it.

The perception on Miranda was that his one loss was a robbery situation in Germany. That he was improving slightly as a boxer but could be like a lion in the ring with his heavy hands and Miranda was able to boss SMW Allan Green around (probably seemed better at the time than it does now).

So, does Taylor's knack for gassing in fights and vulnerability to right hands cost him against the heavy handed Miranda? Or does is he able to survive the onslaught and win?

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nS7HuQlz0H8[/ame]

 

So you don't think JT's penchant for fading, inconsistent fighting over the course of 12 rounds(not shooting out the jab to save energy, having feet of stone for lengths of time, etc.) having a low right hand with his head dipping down, and habit of backing straight up into the ropes under pressure would have no issue for Taylor?

Now, what we learned in the Pavlik-Miranda fight(which occurs after this fictional fight) is that Miranda absolutely sucks at fighting off the backfoot. Just looks totally uncoordinated, uncomfortable, oh, and he goes straight back into the ropes as well. So, with JT being taller, I could see him pushing Miranda back based upon his physical attributes....I just don't think he would do it. The first portion of the fight, I think JT wins 3 of the first 4 rounds, just too much speed and agression at the outset. But anything after the 5th or 6th round.....:think

 

He definitely blew it against AA. However, if I remember correctly his point deduction against Pavlik was spitting out his mouthpiece to buy himself time from the onslaught. And against Bute, well, he's often done some kind of taunting with many of his opponents, this one just totally blew up in his face.

Anyways, I haven't made up my mind on it yet. But, if you're a fighter that fades late in a fight I don't think sharing a ring with a big puncher (or good pressure fighter) is the best place to be. Considering Taylor went between 2005-2011(which is the reason I'm surprised people are picking Taylor by T/KO here) without TKO'ing anybody, I think Miranda will be on his feet late in the fight and Taylor will be fading. I obviously don't think Miranda decisions Taylor, but if he's able to knock him out late in the fight, he wouldn't need the decision.