This Friday on ESPN's Friday Night Fights, Edison "Pantera" Miranda will face season three contender alumni David Banks. Miranda will come into this fight as the clear favorite, boasting wins over Howard Eastman, Allan Green and Willie Gibbs. In his last fight he took on veteran boxer Henry Porras for his first fight in the 168-pound division after his devastating knockout loss to middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik. Porras had previously fought Mikkel Kessler and Karl Froch. The durable veteran put up a solid fight, unfortunately Miranda's punching power carried to the 168-pound division and Porras was stopped in the 5th round. 

Edison Miranda Vs Allan Green

 



David Banks became known to the American public through the Contender series. Banks was in a very exciting slug fest with undefeated Englishmen Paul Smith, but lost a close split decision. He then fought tough Donny McCrary whose best showing was against Sakio Bika earlier in the Contender series. I personally think Banks fought a better fight against Smith but he came out with a close mixed decision.



Edison Miranda Vs Arthur Abraham



 



Edison Miranda's most valuable attribute is his murderous punching power. He fights best coming forward, putting heavy pressure on his opponents. Every punch is thrown with knockout power and he carries power in both hands. I believe his punching power leads to several of his glaring weaknesses. At times Miranda fails to throw in combination; he will often throw wide right-handed bombs and look at his opponent as if waiting for them to fall. If you allow him to come forward he will eventually catch you and put you to sleep.



Edison Miranda Vs Howard Eastman



 





 



David Banks is a slick technician in the ring. He drops his lead hand and relies on speed and rolling his shoulder for defensive purposes. He throws in combination well, and is relatively quick in the super middleweight division. Banks's main weaknesses are his flat footed stance, his low lead hand leads him to eat right hands on occasion, and his tendency to be baited into exchanging in close quarters despite his weak punching power.



Edison Miranda Vs Kelly Pavlik



 

On Friday January the 11th, Edison Miranda will show the world again he is a murderous puncher with less then stellar boxing skills. I predict Banks will make it interesting for 4 or 5 rounds, making Miranda miss with his own solid movement. However, to beat Miranda you have to put him on his back foot where Miranda is a poorer fighter. Banks has a very solid chin and has never been stopped but he has also only knocked out two opponents in his career. This indicates to me that Banks does not have the power to keep Miranda off of him, and I predict a knockout victory for Edison Miranda in the 6th round.