By Scott Gilfoid: WBO fringe light heavyweight contender Tony Bellew (17-1, 11 KO’s) will be taking his career in reverse on September 8th when he faces 31-year-old journeyman Edison Miranda (35-7, 30 KO’s) in a fight for the vacant WBC International light heavyweight title at the Alexandra Palace, Muswell Hill, London, United Kingdom.

Miranda, at one time a decent middleweight, is way past his prime and struggling with his career at light heavyweight. At 5’10” doesn’t have the size for this weight class and is really struggling. He’s lost four out of his last seven bouts, and likely will continue to lose at this clip as long as he stays at this weight. Miranda’s problem is that he’s gotten older and can no longer make 160 pounds. As such, Miranda’s once promising career has really nosedived since he moved up in weight.

It’s strange that the 29-year-old Bellew isn’t trying to fight actual light heavyweight contenders rather than journeyman. At 29, Bellew needs to move his career forward if he ever wants to be more than just a bottom feeder in the division. Battling Miranda is a no win situation for Bellew, because there’s nothing to gain from beating him at this point, because he’s taking losses left and right. And if Bellew gets knocked out by Miranda, which is a possibility because he can still punch and Bellew has a fragile jaw, then that will send Bellew down to the domestic ranks. You don’t gain anything by beating a guy that’s lost four out of his last seven fights like Miranda, and Bellew should have fought this bout years ago instead of now that he’s about to turn 30.

Somehow the Bellew-Miranda bout reminds me a lot of another Brit by the name of David Price, who is fighting 40-year-old Audley Harrison. Price, a huge heavyweight also with a fragile chin, is 29 like Bellew and having problems moving his career along. I see both Bellew and Price losing their best years facing journeyman. It’s too bad because Bellew should be trying to fight contenders now instead of looking for easy marks to fight.