Miranda Makes Short Work of Sierra in Lemoore

On Thursday night at the Tachi Palace Hotel & Casino in Lemoore, California, fearsome knockout artist Edison Miranda reverted back to form, stopping Francisco Sierra in the first round to reclaim the WBO NABO Super Middleweight title and move back in line for a big fight opportunity.

Miranda (33-4, 29 KOs) of Buenaventura, Colombia was making his first ring appearance since suffering a one-sided decision loss to Andre Ward back in May. Taking the phrase, ‘If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em’ to heart, Miranda added Ward’s promoter Dan Goossen of Goossen Tutor Promotions to his team. First up on Miranda’s road back to relevancy was reigning Mexican Super Middleweight Champion Francisco Sierra (20-3, 19 KOs) of Tepic, Nayarit, Mexico.

Unwisely, Sierra, 167.4, started the fight out bravely. Early in the bout, Sierra caught Miranda, 167.4, with a leaping hook. Soon thereafter, Miranda, who entered the fight as the WBC #9/IBF #9 ranked 168-pounder, awoke and landed several hard right hands that had Sierra retreating on shaky legs. With Sierra hunched over Miranda came in and landed a clubbing right high on the side of the Mexican’s head. The blow dropped Sierra face down on the mat. Referee Dan Stell leaped in to call off the fight at the mark of 2:16.

With the victory, Miranda claimed the regional title and likely elevated his ranking with the WBO. Before the fight, talk of Miranda’s future revolved around two potential options. His co-promoter Dan Goossen has suggested that Miranda fight a rematch with Allan Green on the November 21st undercard of Mikkel Kessler’s title defense against Andre Ward, which is also apart of the much ballyhooed Super Six World Boxing Classic. The winner would be appointed as the alternate to tournament, should the recently concussed Jermain Taylor or any other fighter fall out. The second option Miranda’s team has discussed is pursuing a title fight with WBO Super Middleweight Champion Karoly Balzsay.

In the immediate aftermath of his devastating knockout win, Miranda seemed little concerned about his boxing future. “It is not about being a champion,” said Miranda through an interpreter. “It is about keeping these fans happy. I am very happy with this performance, the fans were happy and I will continue to make the fans happy.”

In the co-main event, WBC #5 ranked heavyweight Manuel Quezada (29-4, 18 KOs) of Wasco, California cruised to a workmanlike ten-round unanimous decision over Nicoali Firtha (16-7-1, 7 KOs) of Akron, Ohio. Quezada, 227.8, gauged the lumbering Firtha, 242.8, through the first half of the first round before completely taking over the fight. Quezada, making a defense of his WBC CABOFE Heavyweight title, continually found a home for his overhand right. Several times throughout the middle of the bout, a Quezada right staggered Firtha, who was well adapt at moving and clinching when necessary.

While he did catch Quezada at times, especially when the defending titlist decided to let down his guard, the most damage Firtha caused was by way of headbutts. If Quezada made a tactical mistake in the bout, it was not launching a concentrated body attack on Firtha’s soft midsection. Quezada did close out the tenth and final round with some shots to the body that appeared to hurt the big Ohio native.

In the end, scores were one-sided in favor of the world ranked Quezada, 99-91, 98-92 and 97-93. “It was a good victory,” said Quezada after the fight. “He was a tough guy and a solid opponent. It was a good ten rounds, hard rounds.” Quezada did feel he could have done one thing different that may have led to a shorter night of work. “I didn’t stick to my game plan,” admitted Quezada. “We were supposed to stay with the body a little more.”

While the guys holding the heavyweight belts all seem to have a long list of dance partners waiting their respective turns, Quezada does not plan to sit on his high ranking. “Whatever my team will put together, I will do whatever they say. If I can get a big fight, then definitely I want a big fight. If not, as long as I stay busy in the ring, and do what I have to do then I will be happy with it.”

Rising light welterweight prospect Mike Dallas Jr. (11-0-1, 2 KOs) of Bakersfield, California pounded out a six-round unanimous decision over sturdy journeyman Sergio De La Torre (11-13-3, 1 KO) of Escondido, California. Dallas, 141.8, gave the flat-footed De La Torre, 141.4, fits all night with his hand speed and angles. By the third round, Dallas was uncorking power shots with all of his force behind them. De La Torre covered up well, but could not do much in retort.

By the close of the fourth round, De La Torre’s left eye was rapidly swelling shut and referee Dan Stell stood close by as if he was seconds away from stopping the contest. However, Dallas let off the gas pedal in the fifth, which allowed De La Torre to hang tough and close out the six rounds. Scores were academic, as Dallas won over the judges by tallies of 58-56 and 60-54 twice.

WBA #14 ranked super featherweight Martin Honorio (26-4-1, 14 KOs) of Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico came perilously close to getting disqualified and blowing a good payday, but rescued himself with a fifth-round knockout over iron-jawed Ricardo Medina (31-35-5, 17 KOs) of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania by way of Mazatlan, Sinaloa, Mexico. Honorio, 133.6, suffered two point deductions after a couple of the numerous low blows he landed on Medina, 132.6, over the course of the fight.

Honorio was warned three times and had one point deducted in the first for his infractions. A total of three more warnings and another point deduction were issued before the end of the third round. With one more solid low blow, it is likely Honorio would have been justly disqualified by referee Ray Balewicz. The action was fairly competitive throughout, as Medina stood in with Honorio, a former title challenger. With the fight still within his reach, Medina traded with Honorio late in the fifth. Honorio stood back and uncorked a vicious right hook that finally downed Medina and forced the stoppage at 2:07 of the fifth.

While the fight was competitive before the knockout ending, Honorio was ahead on two of the scorecards at the time of the stoppage, 38-36. The third judge had the fight even, 37-37, heading into the final round. With the win, Honorio stays on track for a November 28th Showtime date against unbeaten lightweight contender John Molina (18-0, 14 KOs) at the Pechanga Resort & Casino in Temecula, California. Molina was on hand for the fight on Thursday to actively scout his next opponent.

Former amateur star Aaron Alafa (3-1, 1 KO) of Visalia, California is quickly finding out that there are not many easy fights to be had in the 122-pound division, but he did manage to eke out a four-round split decision over Danny Pantoja (0-1-1) of Fairfield, California in an exciting fight. Alafa, 122, found himself in a shootout in the second round as Pantoja, 123, took some shots early, but came back to rock the Visalia native halfway through the round. The fight could have been won and lost in the third, as Alafa was ruled down by referee Ray Balewicz during a heated exchange in the corner. However, the onsite replay revealed Alafa’s back leg had slipped out from under him.

Sensing the fight was on the table, Alafa came out strong to start the fourth. A clean Alafa left knocked Pantoja’s mouthpiece clear across the ring, which prompted Balewicz to stop the action at an inopportune time for the former amateur champion. Both fighters closed out the fight throwing bombs until the final bell. In the end, one judge had the fight for Pantoja 38-37. That judge was overruled by the other two, who scored the fight 39-37 and 38-37 for Alafa. While the fight could have gone either way, the decision was vehemently booed by much of the paying onlookers.

Unbeaten super bantamweight Ephraim Martinez (3-0, 1 KO) of Bakersfield knocked out the game, but outclassed Rodrigo Romero (1-2) of Las Vegas, Nevada in the third round of a scheduled four-rounder. The fight turned against Romero, 123, early in the second as Martinez, 121.8, stunned him on a jab and eventually downed him with a right. It was more of the same in the third, as Martinez continued the onslaught. Romero eventually fell to the canvas again from the cumulative punishment more so than any single punch. Referee Dan Stell called the fight at 2:38 of round three.

Lanky, power-punching light welterweight Alan Sanchez (3-0, 1 KO) of Fairfield downed Mikhall Lyubarsky (3-12, 1 KO) of Hollywood, California by way of Kiev, Ukraine twice en route to a second-round stoppage in the opening bout of the evening. Sanchez, 143, went full force on Lyubarsky, 144.2, from the outset. A straight right that wobbled Lyubarksy early in the first was the beginning of the end. Soon thereafter, a right vicious right hook dropped the Ukrainian for the first time. A classic one-two combination dropped Lyubarsky again in the second. Once Lyubarsky rose, Sanchez pressed him in a corner before another shot had him rocked against the ropes. Referee Ray Balewicz immediately leaped in at 1:06 of the second to save Lyubarsky from further punishment.

Boxing is slated to return to the Tachi Palace Hotel & Casino sometime in January of next year.