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‘PANTERA’
STEALS SHOW AT PRESS CONFERENCE! DISGRACES JERMAIN TAYLOR TO HIS
FACE!
MEMPHIS, May 18 – Edison “Pantera” Miranda was in his usual form today
at the final press conference before his HBO-televised bout with Kelly
Pavlik at the FedEx Forum, letting both Pavlik and the night’s
headliner, Jermain Taylor, know that he’s got both of them in his
sights.
“Pavlik’s a great fighter but I’m in a different league,” said Miranda
(28-1, 24 KOs) of his opponent on Saturday. “I’m a Major League player
and he’s in the Minor Leagues. People watch baseball for the homeruns
and boxing for knockouts. On Saturday night I’m going to give people
what they want to see, a KNOCKOUT!”. In the midst of the BBQ festivities
in Memphis this week, Pantera promised that he was going to have his
very own BBQ. “I will Bar-B-Que Kelly Pavlik!.”
The unbeaten Pavlik, a heavy hitter in his own right at 30-0 with 27
KOs, said he’s willing to oblige Miranda in standing toe to toe and
going to war.
“On Saturday I am going to break the record for the most punches thrown
in a round and give the world a great fight to watch,” said “The Ghost”.
As for Taylor, who faces 154-pound titlist Cory Spinks in a
“middleweight” championship bout, Miranda did not hold back.
“Taylor, I will fight you for the same amount of money that I’m getting
paid to fight Pavlik just to show the world that you’re not a real
champion,” said Miranda. “I’m the real champ. I fight real
middleweights, not blown up welterweights.”
And that was just the beginning…
“Cory Spinks you’re a great Champion, but Taylor, you’re supposed to be
a tiger,” continued Miranda. “How do they put a tiger against a cat? If
you’re a real tiger, why don’t they put you face to face with the
panther?”
Taylor took Miranda’s words in stride, saying that he ‘isn’t going to
pound the podium and yell like Miranda’. Instead, he was going to be a
classy champion. However, it was very clear that Miranda’s tough talk
got under Taylor’s skin. Just a few minutes into his speech, Taylor
began pounding the podium and screaming (even harder and louder than
Miranda), which is very unlike the usually calm Taylor. It was apparent
that Taylor was more concerned about Miranda rather than Spinks. He
spent most of his time addressing Miranda’s statements and did not even
make one mention of Cory Spinks, who he will be fighting on Saturday
night.
On another note, Pantera pledged that he did not come to the United
States for money. He came for the love of the sport and to take on the
best fighters in the world. “The fans want to see exciting fights and
knockouts and I will give them just that. Boxing is a sport that needs
help and I believe that I can give boxing the shot in the arm that it
needs”. On the contrary, Taylor stated “To me, it’s all money in the
bank baby!”.
The Miranda-Pavlik, Taylor-Spinks doubleheader airs live on HBO World
Championship Boxing on Saturday, May 19, at 10:15pm ET / 7:15pm PT. |
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