Fight that never happened 2007: Jermain Taylor vs Edison Miranda

We actually weren't ever supposed to get Taylor vs. Pavlik - the favorites on the doubleheader back in 2007 were Taylor over Spinks and Miranda over Pavlik to set up a clash between them later in the year.

Miranda actually ignored Pavlik during the pressers and instead focused on taunting his presumed next rival, Taylor.

 

i remember that, thats when jermaine yelled im the champ i wear a suit and tie im the champ!! gave me a good laugh

miranda over looked Pavlik, though style wise i dont think Miranda ever would have beat Kelly

 

"Like a special champion. Not a mickey mouse champion like you"

 

Miranda was never the same after Pavlik. If he would have faced JT first, it would have been a war. He did not train for Kelly and looked right passed him to get Taylor in the ring. It was a big mistake... Pavlik changed Edison Miranda for good. No question about it.

 

What you don't know....

 

I'm inclined to agree with this.

 

I can see Miranda getting to Taylor's chin.

 

What's up? Did I not explain everything clearly in what you quoted? :huh

I actually haven't voted yet. It's tough to say, because the Miranda of that night definitely wasn't "up" for Pavlik the way he would've been for Taylor.

If we pit, say, the Miranda that fought Green against the Taylor that fought Ouma instead - then we've got the makings of a very challenging but manageable title defense for Taylor. Despite some of the lasting images of him that endure in our minds, I don't think Taylor's chin is any worse than Green's really. I also don't think Miranda would've given him the same puzzling looks that an Ouma did - or throw quite as much leather at him. Taylor was still close to his Hopkins-thwarting self and was a master ring general, and the sometimes high-strung boxing that failed him against the more patient breed of predator in Pavlik could serve him against the more basic straightforward aggression of a prime, KO-hungry Miranda.

I can see both guys knocking each other down. (Miranda chucking something in while Taylor's trying to navigate by with his back facing a corner, or Taylor with a quick well-placed counter on the button)

Both have some questionable stamina.

It could've been a bumpy ride from 10-12.

In the end, I go with Taylor on points...but a Miranda late kayo can't be called a bad pick.

 

Miranda could still box a little back then too. Probably the Taylor/Froch fight wouldn't be a bad comparison to how this would have gone.

 

:think

I was never altogether sold on Miranda's technical abilities (certainly not in the league of the undefeated version of JT), and always viewed him as more of a puncher. He wasn't always the sloppiest puncher out there, and even trucked out the left jab on occasion to set up his big shots - but he's always been about as much a "pure puncher" as you'll find IMO.

Hell, Pavlik showed him to be 100% incapable of functioning at all on the back foot. That alone shows that he wasn't up to par with Taylor in the skills department. He exceeds Taylor in power, and perhaps heart. Punch resistance about the same.

 

I said "a little". He decisioned Allan Green.

 

And that was a very decent version of Green as well. Also worth mentioning had there been about 5 more seconds Miranda would have gotten the KO that night :yep

That was the very definition of "saved by the bell" :deal

 

Excellent posts IB.

Damn fine reading, those. :good