Last night’s FNF feature bout from Hollywood, Florida paired
undefeated Edison Miranda and Howard Eastman in an IBF
middleweight eliminator to current champion Arthur
Abraham - and when the smoke cleared it was Miranda
advancing via 7th round TKO.
Started at a snail’s pace with the age 35 veteran
Eastman in a look-n-see approach, and the touted power
punching Miranda cautiously in role of aggressor -
then stanza five and the ring action began playing
catch up ball.
Fireworks begin just after midway mark of five with
Miranda landing back to back short right hands to the
head that has Eastman on rubber legs - shaky but
alert, the wily Guyana native of 44 kept appointments
needed all his experience to survive the round.
Then round six, and a sudden turnaround - late in the
candle it’s Eastman with big right hand and Miranda
doing the hucklebuck - but try as he did, the bell
would come to the rescue of a wobbly Miranda.
Then the finale - a recovered Miranda meets Eastman in
a stanza seven shootout that favors the undefeated
Colombian - he backs Eastman to a corner with a
barrage of power punches - and with Eastman trapped
and troubled by the onslaught, referee Brian Garry
calls a halt at the 2:33 mark of the round.
Miranda stays unblemished at a now 26 wins with 23
stoppages - Eastman drops to 40-4 with 34 by knockout.
Post Scripts: Miranda ~ Positives simple enough to see
- young at age 25 and with major league clout in the
right mitten. Showed good recuperative powers in
bouncing back after 60 seconds interval between 6 and
7. Kid still in need of fine tuning in skills
department - rocked and ready to go from light puncher
Eastman in stanza six hints of soft chin construction.
Prospect yes, but jury still out.
Eastman ~ Still in business at
age 35, but no longer serious title threat - shortage
of punching power an albatross at this point in time.
Must pick and choose while going the club fight route.
Referee Brian Garry ~ needs
relocation to the "other" Hollywood - first the
contorted facial expressions while going thru the pre-
fite ring instructions - then after the slow paced
start and things heat up the guy goes slightly berserk
- routinely breaking them up while hands free and
punching at close quarters - not to mention the
ongoing verbal barrages and gestures. Welcome
Hollywood, Florida to the world of Lupica’s "There’s New
York, and there’s out of town."
………………………………..........................................................................
Cruiserweight prelim saw undefeated Felix Cora in a
proverbial walk in the park unanimous decision win
over hapless plodder Darnell Wilson - only moment for
Wilson in this lopsided mismatch came early in stanza
two with Cora walking into a surprise right hand that
had him wobbly.
Cora displayed good technical skills while working
from the port side - likes being busy behind a good
jab and variety of combinations - worked well against
more a target than a threat in the one named
"Ding-a-Ling" Darnell.
Cora goes to 18-0-2 with 9 stoppages and Wilson drops
to 18-4-3 with 15 wins by knockout. Most of his KO’s came
at light-heavy - little bounce on display at
cruiserweight.
Closing Comments: Cora ~ age on his side at 26 - helps
working from port side - holds minor league strap of
NABF - not nice if translation is rush job to the more
serious ones at 190 and change.
Wilson ~ resumé more
impressive than the work he displayed last noche. Slow
is being polite - fair description is muscle-bound
plodder that at age 31 appears a shot entity.
Referee Frank Santore
~ passing grades while working an easy assignment.
Hopefully, last night’s work will result in assignment
switch with the main event Garry imposter.
The standard ESPN
Studio-Ringside approach remains as is - club fight
level unworthy of mention.
GEL
3-24-2006
