Arthur Abraham – Edison Miranda II
Giovanni Lorenzo vs. Raul Marquez
June 21, 2008 – LIVE ON SHOWTIME
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino
HOLLYWOOD, Fla. (June 22, 2008) – With three well-timed power punches, “King” Arthur Abraham blasted his way to a definitive fourth-round TKO over nemesis Edison Miranda in a thrilling rematch Saturday on SHOWTIME. In a terrific co-feature, an IBF middleweight eliminator, veteran Raul Marquez won a close unanimous 12-round decision over Dominican upstart Giovanni Lorenzo. All three judges scored the bout 114-113.
The two-fight SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast was presented by Seminole Warriors Boxing and Sauerland Event in association with The Seminole Tribe of Florida.
In one of the most anticipated rematches since Marquez-Vazquez II, Abraham and Miranda had unfinished business. In their first fight, in September 2006 in Germany, Abraham won a controversial, and some say confusing, unanimous decision after suffering a broken jaw in the fifth round. Miranda had five points deducted in that fight (for a head butt and repeated low blows).
On Saturday, they met at a catchweight of 166 pounds with Abraham’s IBF middleweight title belt sitting safely in his dressing room. But Abraham left no doubt with a powerful display that Miranda could not withstand.
Despite winning two of the first three rounds on the scorecards, Miranda went down three times in the fourth round. The first came after a straight right hand landed squarely on Miranda’s chin. Abraham sent Miranda reeling just moments after he got up with a vicious left hook. A final, flush left hook sent Miranda down for the third time in the round and referee Tellis Assmenios waved it off at 1:13.
“Abraham showed us that he is a force to be reckoned with,” said SHOWTIME analyst AL Bernstein. “For one thing, he is very difficult to hit and hurt. More importantly, he has serious power.”
“Boom, Boom, Boom,” said Abraham as he watched the replay of his knockdown punches with SHOWTIME reporter Jim Gray immediately after the fight. “In this fight, I was more cautious. The last time, I didn’t pay as much attention to that. Tonight, I tired him out then knocked him down.”
The undefeated middleweight champion, Abraham (27-0, 22 KOs) is an Armenian native now living and training in Germany. After the fight, he told the SHOWTIME audience that he enjoyed fighting in America and for the enthusiastic crowd at Hard Rock Live. And that he wanted the opportunity to fight Oscar De La Hoya and Kelly Pavlik next.
Miranda, of Yonkers, NY, by way of Colombia, drops to 30-3, (26 KOs) and has said he plans to campaign at 168 regardless of the outcome of this fight.
“He came very well prepared,” said Miranda. “I have no quarrels tonight. He felt very strong. I don’t know what happened. I was 100 percent coming into this fight. The last fight, I was 50 percent. I don’t know. He was too strong today. He’s a great champion.”
The Lorenzo-Marquez fight was a bruising, physical and entertaining affair. Marquez, at 36-years-old, clearly showed that he has the heart, will and skill to fight Abraham for the IBF title.
Despite a slow start, Marquez dominated Lorenzo in the middle rounds. He found a rhythm in the fourth round and fought a tough and intelligent fight. Marquez sustained two deep cuts over his right eye in the 10th as Lorenzo pressed him in the last three rounds. But it wasn’t enough to overcome the game and gritty veteran.
SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING’s Steve Albert and Al Bernstein called the action from ringside with Jim Gray serving as a roving reporter. The executive producer of the SHOWTIME telecast was David Dinkins Jr., the producer was Chuck McKean with Bob Dunphy directing.
REPLAYS
Saturday’s SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast will re-air on SHO Sports Presents on Tuesday, June 24, at 10 p.m. ET/PT (SHO2). SHO Sports Presents, a daily weekday series, replays heart-pounding boxing and EliteXC fight telecasts from SHOWTIME Sports’ arsenal every Monday through Friday at 10 p.m. ET/PT on SHO2.
For more information on SHOWTIME Sports, including exclusive behind-the-scenes video, photo galleries and complete telecast information, please visit http://www.SHO.com/Sports.