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Weight-gaining Edison Miranda branded 'a waste of talent'


Phil D. Jay 
WBN Editor
Former manager Greg Wantman lifts the lid on ‘Pantera’

On the back of his disappointing loss to Tony Bellew last month, former world title challenger Edison Miranda is facing an uncertain future after departing from manager Greg Wantman in the wake of the defeat.

The battle-hardened Colombian was taken down in nine rounds by tough Livepudlian Bellew in London and Wantman was surprised that Miranda quit in the ring with the promise of another world title challenge against Carl Froch on offer with victory.

Miranda seems to have been around the higher end of the rankings for an age, despite being just 31, but Wantman believes that the end could be close for ‘Pantera’ following losses in five of his last eight outings and weight problems away from boxing.

“As far as Edison is concerned, who knows what the future holds,” Wantman told World Boxing News. 

“To me he was a huge waste of talent that could have made a lot of money if he was able to control his weight.

“He almost starved himself to make 160lbs for the Pavlik in 2007 fight losing over 20lbs in two days and that was the turning point of his career. He should have won that fight and moved on to face Jermain Taylor in what would have been built up to be a huge fight, but It was all downhill from there. 

“Moving up in weight never made a difference either as he just gained that much more in between fights.

“His dedication to the sport and training has been less and less since his fight with Lucian Bute in 2010 and it's now showing in the ring.”

Wantman watched on in dismay as a downhearted Miranda submitted to ‘Bomber’ Bellew in uncharacteristic fashion, losing for the fourth time in his war-filled career by stoppage - all of which came in the last five years.

“He was guaranteed a fight against Froch if he had beaten Bellew but he gave up in the ring,” explained Wantman.

“I hope he stops fighting now.  He is nothing more than an opponent, something he said he would never be.

“I truly believe that the Miranda that faced Abraham the first time, with a little tweaking and experience, could have been a world champion and beat anyone.

“He had all the tools and the right team. Good people around him. He just couldn't control himself in between fights, blowing up to 225lbs sometimes (when he was still fighting at 160) and ballooning that much weight takes a huge toll on your body - it's a real shame."


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