Juan Laporte vs Mario Miranda

Puerto Rican favourite Juan Laporte won the vacant World Boxing Council featherweight championship when Mario Miranda’s handlers withdrew their man after the tenth round at Madison Square Garden. Miranda had been knocked down during that round and, although he completed it, was in no condition to continue. The official result was recorded as a retirement at the end of the tenth of a scheduled 15-round contest.

The championship had become vacant following the death of Salvador Sanchez in a motor accident the previous month. Laporte had previously challenged Sanchez and lost a hard 15-round decision, and a return match had been under consideration. He had also acquitted himself well in a disputed points defeat by WBA champion Eusebio Pedroza. Miranda, the leading WBC contender, arrived from Colombia unbeaten in 19 professional contests, but had not previously fought outside his own country. The promotion was presented as a tribute to Sanchez, whose absence gave the proceedings a subdued significance beyond the championship at stake.

Laporte weighed the featherweight limit of 126 pounds, while Miranda was one pound lighter. The Colombian was the taller man and tried to use that advantage by boxing at long range. He stood upright, worked behind his left hand and looked to catch Laporte as the New Yorker advanced. Laporte, shorter and more compact, applied pressure without rushing. He slipped beneath Miranda’s longer punches, answered with the jab and concentrated on bringing his greater physical strength into play at middle and close distance.

Miranda’s speed and reach made the early action lively, and his right hand carried sufficient force to discourage careless advances. He was not, however, able to control the distance for long periods. Laporte moved steadily forward, placing the harder punches and forcing Miranda to give ground. The Colombian frequently found himself retreating in straight lines, where Laporte could follow him with the left jab and then bring the right hand into range. Miranda continued to punch back and remained dangerous, but much of his work came under pressure.

As the contest moved through its middle stages, Laporte’s strength and experience became increasingly apparent. He was patient in front of a man whose unbeaten record and punching power demanded respect. Rather than engage in unnecessary exchanges, he blocked or slipped the first punch and replied with short, firm counters. Miranda tried to regain control with quick combinations from outside, but Laporte closed the distance more readily and made him work at a pace that gradually drained the spring from his legs.

There was no single round before the tenth in which Miranda collapsed, but the accumulated effect of Laporte’s punches was plain. The Colombian’s attacks became less frequent, while Laporte continued to advance behind a stiff left hand. Miranda still returned enough punches to maintain interest, yet he was losing the greater part of the exchanges and absorbing the cleaner blows. The three judges reflected that control: Mike Jacobs had Laporte ahead 98-90 after ten rounds, James Brimmell scored it 97-91 and Jean Deswert 97-92.

Laporte settled the matter in the tenth. During the opening 15 seconds, he drove three hard left jabs into Miranda’s head, disrupting the challenger’s balance and leaving him exposed. The subsequent attack dropped Miranda heavily onto the seat of his trunks near the lower ropes. He regained his feet and survived the remainder of the round, but his resistance had been broken. When he returned to his corner, his handlers decided that he had taken enough and informed referee Octavio Meyran that he would not answer the bell for the eleventh.

Laporte’s victory was comprehensive, though not easy. Miranda had brought speed, height and genuine punching power, and he remained willing until the punishment overcame him. Laporte answered with sound pressure, stronger work at close quarters, and the composure gained from previous championship contests. At 22, he had secured the title after defeats by two established champions and became the successor to Sanchez, the man he had once been preparing to meet again.

I always rated Juan Laporte. He never received the attention given to Salvador Sanchez, Wilfredo Gomez or Azumah Nelson, but he belonged in that company. He had already gone 15 rounds with Sanchez, flattened Rocky Lockridge and pushed Eusebio Pedroza close. Those defeats taught him more than Miranda’s unbeaten record had taught the Colombian.

Miranda was tall, could punch, and tried to use his reach, so he was dangerous enough to keep you watching. But there’s a difference between looking good at long range and controlling a proper world-class fighter. Laporte kept slipping inside the jab, making Miranda give ground and landing the heavier, more accurate counters. It wasn’t reckless pressure. He took his time and gradually stripped Miranda of his confidence and legs.

By the tenth, the fight had become one-sided. Laporte drove three stiff jabs into Miranda, put him down and left him sufficiently worn that his corner stopped it before the eleventh. The official cards—98-90, 97-91 and 97-92—show how complete the performance had been.

For me, this was Laporte proving he was more than a brave contender who had fallen short against great champions. Miranda was genuine world-level, but Laporte was stronger, tougher and technically better. He didn’t inherit that championship. He earned it.