Miranda Promises Chilemba 'Long Flight Back to Africa'

"Everyone has a game plan until they get hit," laughs hard-hitting light heavyweight contender Edison "Pantera" Miranda.

Miranda (35-6, 30 KOs) is responding to pre-fight interviews with South Africa's WBC #6, WBA #13, and WBO #14-rated Isaac "Golden Boy" Chilemba, whom he will face in the 10-round light heavyweight main event of this Friday's (February 3) ESPN Friday Night Fights broadcast from the Dallas Events Center at the Texas Station Gambling Hall & Hotel in Las Vegas.

"It's one thing to study video, but then that leather hits your face and your plan goes out the window and survival mode kicks in. Before you know it, you get hit again and you're lying on the canvas. What happened to your game plan?"

Presented by Warriors Boxing and Sampson Boxing, "Superbrawls" will also feature a fantastic eight-round co-main event between 21-year-old lightweight Hylon Williams Jr. (15-0, 3 KOs) and 25-year-old Cuban power-punching sensation Rances "Kid Blast" Barthelemy (14-0, 11 KOs), plus fast-rising heavyweight sensation Magomed Abdusalamov (12-0, 12 KOs) of Moscow, Russia, taking on Cuba's Pedro Rodriguez (8-0, 6 KOs).

Tickets for "Super Brawls" are priced at $25 and $50 and are available at Ticketmaster, any Texas Station rewards center or at Stationcasinos.com/concerts. A few VIP seats are available at a price of $100. Please call (954) 985-1155.

Miranda, who is coming off an impressive KO of world-rated Kariz Kariuki in Atlantic City last December says Friday will be a matter of bad timing for Chilemba.

"I have been with my trainer Noni 'Chico' Carbajal for two years and he is a great trainer. I have never been so dedicated and hungry as I am now. We had the perfect training camp and I am ready to make an example of Isaac Chilemba. If he could feel what I am feeling, he would run away like (original opponent Yordanis) Despaigne did. Everyone thinks they have me figured out before they fight me, but Isaac, I promise you are going to have a long flight back to Africa. You said you were not going to leave the fight in the judges' hands - you won't have to since the fight will be in my hands. You are facing me at the wrong time in my career. I have knocked out so many of my opponents. When I walk into that ring Friday night, I have every intention of adding you to the list."

Tickets for "Super Brawls" are priced at $25 and $50 and are available at Ticketmaster, any Texas Station rewards center or at Stationcasinos.com/concerts. A few VIP seats are available at a price of $100. Please call (954) 985-1155.

On fight night, doors open at 5:30 and the action starts at 6:00 pm.

Station Bucks may be used to purchase tickets. All ages welcome. Under 21 must be accompanied by an adult 21 or over. Show subject to change without notice. Management reserves all rights. Digital Photography and video prohibited. Tickets can be purchased at any Station Casinos Boarding Pass Rewards Center, The Fiesta's, by logging onto stationcasinos.com/concerts or by calling 1-800-745-3000.

Texas Station Gambling Hall & Hotel is located at 2101 Texas Star Ln in North Las Vegas. Telephone: (702) 631-1000 or (800)654-8888.

LIVERPOOL ACE SMITH ON KLITSCHKO-CHISORA UNDERCARD

Liverpool's Stephen Smith will start his comeback in Germany on the undercard of Dereck Chisora's WBC World Heavyweight title fight against Vitali Klitschko.

Smith, a former British and Commonwealth Featherweight Champion, will feature in an eight round contest against an opponent to be confirmed at the Olympiahalle in Munich on Saturday 18th February.

The show will be televised live and exclusive on the undisputed home of British Boxing BoxNation (Sky Ch. 456/Virgin Ch. 546).

It will be the first fight for the 26-year-old since he lost the titles to Welsh rival Lee Selby in a stunning upset last September, but he's regrouped with trainer Joe Gallagher and is ready to launch a new assault in the division.

"This is the start of a new career for me, I've had a good rest and learnt from the mistakes I've made in my last fight and I'm ready to start on the road back in Germany," said Smith.

"It's the first fight back that I hope will lead to the rematch with Selby and the opportunity to reclaim my titles,"

"I'm delighted that I'm on such a big show and it's a chance to make a big impact with a top performance in front of the German fans which will also be seen live in the UK on BoxNation,"

Smith also thinks that Chisora has a good shot at beating Klitschko to make it a double in Germany.

"I hope he does the job against Klitschko and wins the world title, it would be a great achievement," added Smith.

"From what I've seen he's in great shape, if he approaches the fight like he did against Robert Helenius when he was robbed of the title, then I think he could win it."

*THE BIGGER THEY ARE…Klitscho v Chisora is live and exclusive on BoxNation (Sky Ch. 456/Virgin Ch. 546) on Saturday 18th February.  Join at www.boxnation.tv *

ASKIN IN TITLE RUSH

MATTY ASKIN is in a hurry to get to grips with British cruiserweight champion Shane McPhilbin.

The Blackpool hitter (12-0) faces John Lewis Dickinson in a title eliminator this spring, with the winner challenging for a Lonsdale belt later this year.

Askin, 23, warms up for the Dickinson test when he meets Hungarian Attila Palko (12-1) over six rounds at Bolton’s Reebok Stadium on Saturday (Feb 4)

He said: “I would fight McPhilbin tomorrow if I could. That is how confident I am of beating him.

“It looks like McPhilbin will squeeze in a voluntary against Tony Conquest before the mandatory against myself or Dickinson.

“I hope that after beating Dickinson I challenge Conquest because he will be a much harder fight than McPhilbin.

“No disrespect to McPhilbin, but if he wasn’t British champion there wouldn’t be too many people interested in fighting him.”

Palko, 25, has knocked out ten of his 12 victims and insists he can shatter Askin’s title aspirations.

Askin added: “I am going into the fight blind because I cannot find any DVDs or fights on YouTube.

“I know vaguely what Palko looks like from one picture, but my trainer Bob Shannon and I have a game plan that will see us through.”

Topping the show being televised by Sky Sports is Bury’s Scott Quigg who makes the first defence of his British super-bantamweight crown against Welshman Jamie Arthur.

Also in action on Saturday’s card is former Commonwealth and European super-bantamweight champion Rendall Munroe who boxes Argentinian Jose Saez in a non-title eight rounder.

Other fights: Stephen Foster Jr v Yauheni Kruhlik, Joe Murray v Jose Luis Graterol, Craig Lyon v Yuri Voronin, Jazza Dickens v Barrington Brown, Feargal McCrory v Sid Razak and Tasif Khan v Delroy Spencer.

Boxing starts at 6.15pm and tickets priced at £35, £55 and £75 VIP ringside. You can buy by calling 01925 755 222, Ticketmaster 0844 847 2500, Ticketline 0844 888 9991 or online www.hattonboxing.com