Press Release: Three weeks before the IBF middleweight title bout between Arthur Abraham and challenger Edison Miranda, one of Miranda’s co-managers,  Steve Benbasat directed an insult towards Abraham, calling him one-dimensional and predicting Miranda would win the title by knockout. In Abraham’s base, Berlin, Benbasat’s verbal attack generated a response from Abraham’s manager, Wilfried Sauerland, who said, “Calling Arthur one-dimensional just indicates Benbasat’s lack of experience. If his charge has the same attitude as him, he won’t know what’s going to hit him in the ring. Although I consider Miranda a very strong opponent, I’m sure Arthur will win because he is the more intelligent boxer.”

Abraham’s trainer, Ulli Wegner, also took note of Benbasat’s remarks. “They probably do not know who they are talking about. Arthur is unique, and his punches might be the hardest in the world among middleweights.”

Sauerland also issued a statement in response to Benbasat’s criticism that the German drug testing system was not on the level.  “The drug tests are international and absolutely neutral. In Germany we take the problem of drugs very seriously and it is incomprehensible that the Americans do not do so. Only because of the lax system in the USA, American boxers are found guilty of doping now and then.”

Meanwhile the challenger is preparing for the world championship match in Puerto Rico. “Edison got a big head start on training and he is taking this fight very seriously. He is looking sharper than ever, and he's ready for this fight,” his manager reports.  Abraham started sparring in Berlin’s Max Schmeling Gym. Next week, he and Wegner are going to train in nearby Kienbaum, while Miranda trains in Puerto Rico.