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Live Commentary: Tony Bellew vs. Edison Miranda as it happened

Sports Mole's live text commentary of the light-heavyweight clash between Tony Bellew and Edison Miranda, taking place at Alexandra Palace, London.

Good evening and welcome to Sports Mole's live text commentary of the light-heavyweight clash between Tony Bellew and Edison Miranda, taking place at Alexandra Palace, London.

Bellew comes into the fight on the back of a fifth-round stoppage of Danny McIntosh in April.

The 29-year-old lost a narrow points decision over WBO titlist Nathan Cleverly in October and will be looking to seal another shot at a world title with victory over his Colombian opponent.

Miranda - beaten by Arthur Abraham and Lucian Bute in both of his world title fights - brings a 35-7-0 record into the contest.

The 31-year-old was beaten in February by Malawi's Isaac Chilemba.


11.06pmIt's goodnight from me!

11.05pmWell, that's all from Alexandra Palace. Come back at 2.30pm when my colleague Liam Power will bring you coverage of the fight between Andre Ward and Chad Dawson.

11.03pmBellew looks very relaxed after that win. What's next for the man from Liverpool?

11.02pmBellew: "I've stepped up tonight. Edison Miranda is proven world class. Teddy Atlas said only the best guys beat him, so what does that make me?"

11.01pmBellew: "I got the end result I wanted. The gameplan was for the first four rounds was make him miss. Then aftet that it was make him miss and make him pay. I stuck to the tactics.

10.55pmThat's a big win for Bellew. It was a composed and measured performance, I felt. Miranda took a few early rounds but Bellew settled into the rhythm and began to assert his dominance. A good victory.

10.53pmBellew rocked Miranda with some heavy shots, forcing the Colombian to one knee. He just didn't fancy it any more and the referee stopped the fight.

10.51pmTony Bellew defeats Edison Miranda with a ninth-round stoppage

Round 9Miranda gets up from one knee, but he tells the referee that he cannot continue! He's had the stuffing knocked out of him!

Round 9MIRANDA IS DOWN! ANOTHER BIG BODY SHOT FROM BELLEW!

Round 9Bellew drives homke a massive right hand. This looks like the beginning of the end.

Round 9Miranda is tired now. He sags against the ropes as Bellew gets through with some punishing body shots.

Round 9Bellew is producing the better quality in this round. A big body shots has Miranda gulping for air.

End of round 8Bellew once again had Miranda stunned in the dying seconds of that round. He didn't go in for the kill and let Miranda off the hook. He is opening up a gap on the scorecards, though.

Round 8Decent combination from Bellew. He connected with a few body shots.

Round 8Crisp right hook from Bellew, then a big uppercut; but Miranda keeps coming forward.

Round 8Bellew is starting to step on the gas now. Miranda is beginning to look weary, but is still throwing out dangerous shots.

End of Round 7Bellew launches an attack with great success, but backs off just when Miranda is vulnerable. He takes the round, but he could have dropped the Colombian there. He was stunned.

Round 7Miranda telegraphs an overhand right and Bellew ducks it easily. That won't work, Edison.

Round 7A brief exchange sees Bellew connect with the cleaner shots.

End of Round 6Miranda was bossing that round until Bellew's late flurry. I'm going to side in favour of the Colombian. I have it at 3-3.

Round 6Miranda has Bellew up against the ropes, but is caught with a few counter-punches.

Round 6Great left hand from Miranda catches Bellew flush on the chin. He takes it well.

End of Round 5Sorry Sky Sports, Bellew looks comfortable to me. It was a tight fifth round, with not much between them.

Round 5A decent uppercut from Bellew encourages Miranda to come forward. The Colombian has some fight left.

End of Round 4Bellew unloads with a speedy combination to finish the round. It's another one for him on my (very unofficial) scorecard.

Round 4Bellew is continuing to work behind his jab nicely. You just get the feeling that he has worked his opponent out.

Round 4Miranda is showing some strange footwork. It looks like showboating, but it looks bad.

End of Round 3the Colombian tried to wow the judges in the final 20 seconds, but that was Bellew's round.

Round 3Miranda has Bellew cornered, but he can't find the target.

Round 3Bellew is starting to have some success with the jab, but nothing meaningful is getting through. He still needs to find his range in this fight.

Round 3Bellew does some good work on the inside as Miranda walks him down.

End of Round 2I'm giving that round to Miranda. Bellew took some big punches in the round but hung on and recovered well.

Round 2Bellew slips out of trouble and the attack has subsided. Bellew connects with a decent shot, but he has felt the Colombian's power!

Round 2Miranda unleashes a vicious right hand and has Bellew pressed against the ropes. Bellew responds, but Miranda continues to throw a barrage!

Round 2Bellew has some swelling around his right eye.

End of Round 1There's not much in that round. Very tight. Miranda's punches may have been a bit cleaner.

Round 1Bellew is holding centre of the ring but Miranda is moving well.

Round 1Cautious opening minute. Both fighters are standing off each other, unwilling to commit themselves.

Round 1Seconds out, round 1...

10.13pmWe're about to get underway.

10.12pmBellew is boxing out of the blue corner. Fitting.

10.10pmThis is a very intriguing contest. And a snippet of Russel Crowe shouting "are you not entertained?!" only heightens the sense of drama and anticipation.

10.09pmThe theme from Z-Cars, which has been adopted by his beloved Everton, blasts around Alexandra Palace as Tony Bellew comes to the ring. He looks mean.

10.07pmHere comes Miranda. He won't be daunted by this atmosphere, he has been in with some big competition. This is a big test for Bellew, but one he can pass.

10.03pmOlympic gold medalist Nicola Adams is being paraded in the ring before the bout. Much deserved.

10.02pmMiranda lost a unanimous points decision to Andre Ward in 2009 and since then has been on a W-L-W-L-W-L-W-L run.

9.56pmIn the support fight for tonight's main event at Alexandra Palace, Lee Purdy destroyed Gumersindo Lucas Carrasco. The Argentinian was downed three times before the referee eventually stopped the bout. I feared that Carrasco may have pressed charges against the officials had they allowed the fight to carry on.

9.53pmBoxing is back and its return brings three fights of great interest. Later tonight, Vitali Klitschko takes on Manuel Charr. And after that, Andre Ward goes toe to toe with Chad Dawson.

9.47pmWelcome to Sports Mole's live text commentary the fight between Tony Bellew and Edison Miranda.
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