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#1
2007: +12.45 units
2008: +25.3 units
2009: +7.81 units2008: +25.3 units
Andre Ward vs Edison Miranda
Ward by decision (+220) (5 Dimes)
2.27 units
Posting a little earlier than usual this week after watching the line on this one drop over the last several days. The Olympian from Oakland certainly has his work cut out for himself here against the aggressive Colombian. That said, he will be fighting on his home turf against a fighter that may have lost a few steps following his crushing 4th round defeat to Arthur Abraham last June. I would never count out a guy like Miranda - well, at least not at this stage of his career, but I do think Ward's handlers know what they are doing in matching their fighter with Pantera in what will be his most dangerous fight to date. While I can see this fight going a number of different ways, I think it makes the most sense for Ward to use his speed to stay on the outside and attempt to box his way to a points win. Ward is improving in the power department with each bout and there is the chance he catches Miranda with something big (and vice versa) but I see both men utilizing a more cautious approach with so much at stake. For Ward, it's not only his biggest test to date, it's by far and away his most risky match up. He's been rocked before by far less powerful fighters (Kost and Boone) and will need to be at his defensive best in order to avoid the Colombian's crushing jabs. I can see Ward taking advantage of Miranda's over-aggressive tendencies by refusing to get caught up in a firefight on the inside. If Ward has a chance to go for the kill, he will obviously have to take it. I'm willing to take the risk, however, that Ward uses his superior boxing abilities to guide himself to what will be his biggest win to date via a hard fought decision.
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