Texas Station features light heavyweights

Edison Miranda expects things to go much better for him tonight than the last time he fought in Las Vegas.

Miranda (35-6, 30 knockouts) was disqualified for repeated low blows when he faced Yordanis Despaigne on July 29 at the Cosmopolitan. Miranda promises there won't be a repeat episode tonight when he faces South Africa's Isaac Chilemba in the 10-round light heavyweight main event of the Warriors Boxing/Sampson Boxing card at Texas Station's Dallas Events Center.

"I'm not worried at all," Miranda said. "I'm just here to do my job."

A native of Buenaventura, Colombia, the 31-year-old Miranda is coming off an impressive performance in his last fight when he stopped Kariz Kariuki in the fifth round in Atlantic City on Dec. 17. He said it was important for him to look good.

"That fight got me back on track," Miranda said. "It gave me my confidence back, and it opened the door for this fight."

As big as tonight is for Miranda, who last fought for a world title in April 2010 when he lost to Lucien Bute for the IBF super middleweight belt, it's arguably bigger for Chilemba (18-1-1, nine KOs). Miranda easily is the best opponent the 24-year-old Chilemba has faced, and he knows a win tonight can set him on his way to a potential world title shot.

"It's a big opportunity for me," Chilemba said. "I need to outthink him and outbox him. I believe I can be two to three seconds faster than him, and that will be the difference in the fight."

Chilemba isn't worried that Miranda's experience dwarfs his.

"I know what to expect from him," Chilemba said. "I'll stay focused in the ring and not let him throw me off my game."

Miranda said at this stage of his career he can't afford any more setbacks if he wants another world title shot.

"I'm hungry," he said. "Every fight is big for me. I'm 31. I still have the skills, and I have the experience to be world champion. (Chilemba) hasn't faced anyone as good as me."

Undefeated super featherweights Rances Barthelemy (14-0, 11 KOs) and Hylon Williams Jr. (15-0, three KOs) will meet in an eight-round bout in the co-feature.

The first bell for the card, which will be nationally televised on ESPN2, is scheduled for 6 p.m.

Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913. Follow him on Twitter: @stevecarprj.