HOLLYWOOD, FL – After a sensational first round knockout win over Willie Gibbs on December 16th, uncrowned middleweight champion Edison Miranda was widely praised for his effort over the tough Philadelphian.

But instead of crediting ‘Pantera’ for a job well done, Team Gibbs has gone to the media, citing a knee injury as the cause for Miranda’s knockout victory.

“I’m disappointed by the reaction of Gibbs’ team to their defeat,” said Miranda. “I was told Philadelphia fighters always come to fight and that win or lose, they have no excuses – well, this obviously isn’t the case. The only things that knocked Gibbs out were my fists, and I don’t remember hitting him on the knee. But he can look on the bright side, because if the fight would have continued, I would have sent “The Gladiator” out on his shield.”

And while some might call this simple boasting, the fact remains that the punishing Miranda has sent his last three opponents – Gibbs, IBF “belt holder” Arthur Abraham, and two-time world title challenger Howard Eastman – to the hospital after their fights. Maybe this is why the so-called elite of the middleweight division want nothing to do with “Pantera”.

“I know Jermain Taylor and Arthur Abraham fear me and that I’ll have to shame them into fighting me,” said Miranda. “That’s okay though, because the people know who the real fighters are and which ones are simply pretenders with title belts. In 2007, I’ll expose all of them.”