According to Steve Kim: http://maxboxing.com/Kim/Kim032609.asp (go to the bottom of the article) This is great news, if it holds true. Ward needs a test at this level before trying to move up to fight one of the belt holders. Both Bika and Miranda are dangerous fighters but who are there to be outboxed by the more skilled Ward. Either would be a good measure of his chin and his resolve. :good
Very interesting, but it won't be either, most likely. My money for Bika is a fight v. Bute, and Miranda will probably fight Froch next... ...but I'd be really, really, really impressed if he does fight Bika next... ...but seeing that Bika turned down a fight against Pascal, for example, to chase bigger fish, it's unlikely he'll go for Ward anyway...
I'd be satisfied with either fight. Though I'd be inclined to favor Bika to beat him, and expect Ward to outpoint Miranda with a scare or two on the way.
True. Ward had two serious scares early in his career (Kost, Boone) and has yet to be properly chin checked by a legitimate puncher. It would be interesting to see how he responds to Miranda's right hand.
The problem with Miranda is that a competent boxer who sticks to the gameplan won't get to be chinchecked by him...you really need someone better than him to do the job...the very fact that he lands big on you is a questionmark over the level of your progress, imo...
I definitely think Miranda is the easier fight for Ward at this point. Bika is a tough fight for anyone, he's rough and dirty, and the fact that he can bang too won't help the less experienced Ward. Miranda's right hand is deadly, but as long as Ward uses his skills and steers clear, I think he could take him to a decision or maybe even stop him.
Bika is a dangerous one. Ward beats Miranda. In terms of handspeed Bika is just better than Miranda. Stamina and chin too.