Heavyweight Antonio Mireles cut an intimidating figure as the Top Rank star towered over his opponent on Friday.
The towering brute tipped to be a ‘future world champion’ is on the warpath ahead of a fourth professional bout on July 23rd.
Antonio Mireles
Mireles, the 2020 Olympic trials gold medalist, has spent just under four minutes inside the ropes since entering the paid code.
Signing with Top Rank when having his pick of the litter, Mireles, 25, competes on the forthcoming Joet Gonzalez vs Isaac Dognoe bill.
Dennys Reyes looked like a lost puppy as Mireles not only outweighed him by 41 pounds but gave him the death stare at the head-to-head.
Reyes could be in for a world of hurt on Saturday night.
The way he towers over him 😳
Antonio Mireles looks to become 4-0 tomorrow night. pic.twitter.com/AlEYQGUeJc
— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) July 22, 2022
Commanding heavyweight
Represented by Split-T Management and David McWater, Mireles stands 6’9″ tall and cuts a commanding figure.
Hailing from Des Moines, Iowa, the big-hitter is affectionately known as “The Lincoln Giant.” – He joins the most domineering top division stars immediately in stature and potential.
Discussing how he deals with his opponent, Mireles has it all figured out. “I like to keep my opponents at bay and use my range,” he said.
Antonio Mireles potential
McWater, who guided Teofimo Lopez to the Fighter of the Year Award in 2020, is in no doubt about his potential.
“I am as excited about signing Antonio as anyone I’ve ever signed,” pointed out McWater.
“I think he can be heavyweight champion of the world someday. The opportunity to be a tremendous star of the future.”
Similarly to Andy Ruiz Jr., Mireles is of Mexican-American descent. The pair recently spent some time together in the gym under Eddy Reynoso.
Amateur career
Before working with Robert Garcia and Reynoso, John Saunders and Elly Nunez guided the prospect for his entire amateur career.
His career boasted almost thirty amateur wins, culminating in a 2020 USA Olympic Trials victory in the Super-Heavyweight division.
Team USA eventually picked Richard Torrez. In a competition boasting many future stars, Torrez brought home a creditable silver medal.
Mireles has no bad feelings toward Torrez. The pair sparred together many times and are now on the same team with Bob Arum.
“That was almost two years ago,” said Mireles, adding that there is “no ill will or anything like that,” Mireles told fresnobee.com.
Signed a multi-year promotional contract with Top Rank will have helped soften the blow. Arum is not keeping both apart as they move through their respective careers.
Turning pro five months before Torrez due to the Olympics, Mireles won two bouts before sharing a bill with his ex-USA training partner. Both scored second-round knockouts.
Arum, like McWater, sees a bright future for Mireles in the coming years.
“Antonio is a big young man with a personality to match. He has all the makings of a heavyweight superstar,” said Top Rank chairman Bob Arum. “I have no doubt he’ll develop into a formidable fighter.”
Top Rank move
Like many of today’s budding young stars of the future, Mireles knew where he wanted to sign.
“I want to thank Top Rank for this tremendous opportunity. I’ve had my eye on Top Rank ever since I started taking the sport seriously. It’s an honor to turn pro under their banner.”
He described himself to a new audience: “I am a versatile boxer, but I’m not afraid to get in the trenches and have a shootout.
“My coaches try to stop me from doing that, but I’m naturally aggressive. I believe my style is more suited to the pro game.”
After he decided to leave the unpaid code behind after his Olympic disappointment, Mireles stated: “The more I thought about it, I realized I had no desire to fight as an amateur anymore.
“I wanted to take the next step and continue to grow as a fighter.”
Tyson Fury
Well, he already has the stature. He has to keep putting it all together. If he can keep his feet on steady ground, the sky is the limit for the man the same size as current heavyweight king Tyson Fury,
There aren’t many six-foot-nine-inch punchers around right now.
WBN Editor Phil has over ten years of boxing news experience. Follow WBN on Facebook @officialworldboxingnews and Twitter @worldboxingnews.
