Their first fight was great drama.  Countless multiple-punch exchanges.  Numerous low blows and head butts.  5 penalty points deducted.  1 broken jaw, broken in two places.  And, most importantly, one highly disputed decision.  When Arthur Abraham met and defeated Edison Miranda by unanimous decision in September 2006, they gave the fans one of the most exciting, if not technically classic, middleweight fights in a long time.  These two will resume their rivalry on Saturday in Hollywood, Florida in what should be another thrilling match. 
Abraham (26-0, 21 KOs) and Miranda (30-2, 26 KOs) are fighting at a catch-weight of 166 pounds, a fact that figures to be to Miranda's advantage.  The only two losses of his career have come at middleweight (the disputed decision to Abraham and a knockout loss to Kelly Pavlick).  But, Miranda has two impressive KOs at super middleweight and has seemed more natural at the division's 168-pound limit.  Miranda, whose punching power is impressive at any weight, should be, at 166, throwing punches more explosive than Abraham has ever tasted.

But, if there is one thing Abraham, does not have to prove, it is his ability to take a punch.  In the first Miranda fight, Abraham had his jaw broken in two places and continued to stand toe to toe with the fearsome Miranda and gave as good as he got.  Whereas Miranda has dynamic punching power, Abraham uses heavy punch volume to rack up knockouts, something he has done in impressive fashion throughout his career.  He is a come-forward fighter who throws in bunches, and throws with both hands.  This stands in sharp contrast to the patient Miranda, who looks for the right time to land his big right.

I see Abraham being aggressive early, coming forward and using his superior footwork to dicate the pace and distance that the match will be fought at.  He will throw and land more punches, but his willingness to trade at close range is going to put him in front of that big Miranda right hand.  Abraham should win the first few rounds on volume and output alone, but standing in range of Miranda's right hand is not a plan that will end well.  Abraham's tendency is to always be the aggressor, and I think Miranda will make him pay the price for his aggression.  At 166 pounds, Miranda has too much artillery for anyone not named Kelly Pavlick, and I expect Abraham, even though he'll be ahead on the cards, will stand in front of one Miranda roundhouse too many.  Give me Miranda in a middle-round knockout; let's call it Miranda KO5.