Ward wins unanimous decision over Miranda
05/17/2009 | 11:39 AM
OAKLAND, California — Andre Ward remained unbeaten and stayed on course for a 168-pound (76-kilogram) title shot this year with the biggest victory of his pro career, a unanimous decision over Colombia's Edison Miranda on Saturday.
Ward (19-0, 12 KOs), the 2004 U.S. Olympic gold medalist, showed resilience in fighting 11½ rounds with a cut over his left eye caused by a head-butt from the free-swinging Miranda (32-4). Although Ward couldn't land a knockout, he clearly demonstrated better skill and discipline while thriving in the late rounds of just the second 12-round fight of his career.
Fighting at Oracle Arena in his hometown for the first time as a pro, Ward heard his name chanted during several rounds, and received a standing ovation afterward from the crowd of 7,818.
"This is kind of a bittersweet victory," Ward said. "I'm happy and excited because the fans had a good time, and there were a lot of people here, but I'm not 100 percent happy with my performance. I've got to go look at the tape. I did some things well, but I felt I could have improved in other areas."
Two judges scored the fight 119-109 for Ward, while the third favored him 116-112.
Miranda once was a prime 160-pound (72.5-kilogram) prospect, but was knocked out by Kelly Pavlik and Arthur Abraham in the last two years. The loss is his third in seven fights.
"It was tougher than I expected," said Miranda, a prodigious pre-fight trash talker. "I don't feel cheated. Andre is the champion. I have respect for him."
Miranda represented the biggest professional test for Ward, who has progressed deliberately in the nearly five years since his triumph in Athens, where he won the only gold medal for an American fighter in the last three Olympics. Injuries and overall caution kept Ward from capitalizing instantly on his Olympic success, but Virgil Hunter, his trainer and longtime mentor, believes Ward is ready for every top name in the super middleweight division.
Ward hopes his next fight will be against WBC champion Carl Froch of Britain, who dramatically stopped Jermain Taylor in the final round of a bout Froch was losing last month. Ward is expected to be Froch's mandatory challenger. -AP
Ward (19-0, 12 KOs), the 2004 U.S. Olympic gold medalist, showed resilience in fighting 11½ rounds with a cut over his left eye caused by a head-butt from the free-swinging Miranda (32-4). Although Ward couldn't land a knockout, he clearly demonstrated better skill and discipline while thriving in the late rounds of just the second 12-round fight of his career.
Fighting at Oracle Arena in his hometown for the first time as a pro, Ward heard his name chanted during several rounds, and received a standing ovation afterward from the crowd of 7,818.
"This is kind of a bittersweet victory," Ward said. "I'm happy and excited because the fans had a good time, and there were a lot of people here, but I'm not 100 percent happy with my performance. I've got to go look at the tape. I did some things well, but I felt I could have improved in other areas."
Two judges scored the fight 119-109 for Ward, while the third favored him 116-112.
Miranda once was a prime 160-pound (72.5-kilogram) prospect, but was knocked out by Kelly Pavlik and Arthur Abraham in the last two years. The loss is his third in seven fights.
"It was tougher than I expected," said Miranda, a prodigious pre-fight trash talker. "I don't feel cheated. Andre is the champion. I have respect for him."
Miranda represented the biggest professional test for Ward, who has progressed deliberately in the nearly five years since his triumph in Athens, where he won the only gold medal for an American fighter in the last three Olympics. Injuries and overall caution kept Ward from capitalizing instantly on his Olympic success, but Virgil Hunter, his trainer and longtime mentor, believes Ward is ready for every top name in the super middleweight division.
Ward hopes his next fight will be against WBC champion Carl Froch of Britain, who dramatically stopped Jermain Taylor in the final round of a bout Froch was losing last month. Ward is expected to be Froch's mandatory challenger. -AP
