Cuban Erislandy “The American Dream” Lara (21-2-2, 12 KOs) will defend his super welterweight title against Jan Zaveck (35-3, 19 KOs) on Premier Boxing Champions on ESPN Wednesday, November 25 from Hialeah Park Racing and Casino in Miami with televised coverage beginning at 9 p.m. ET.
“I’m very excited to be defending my title in my hometown of Miami,” said Lara. “Getting in the ring with a former world champion and an experienced fighter like Jan Zaveck is something I’m very much looking forward to. On November 25 I will put on a show for all my fans and especially all my Cuban fans watching on ESPN.”
“I am aware that this will be one of the toughest fights of my career,” said Zaveck. “I respect Lara and I will prove that I am on the same level. I am aware that I am the underdog and that I am coming into Lara’s ‘living room.’ I am coming to Miami to chase my dreams and surprise everybody.”
Lara, known as one of the best technical boxers in the sport, was an exceptional amateur for the Cuban national team before eventually defecting from the country. Now, Lara will fight in Miami for just the second time in his career, a city that boasts the largest Cuban population in the U.S.
Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by Warriors Boxing, are priced at $100, $75, $50, $35 and $25, not including applicable fees, and are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased online at www.myticketforce.com, by phone at (877) 840-0457 or at the Hialeah Park casino cage.
The 32-year-old Larais a slick boxer with the ability to deliver punishment while taking very little of it in return. Lara has notched victories over Alfredo Angulo, Austin Trout, Ishe Smith and Freddy Hernandez throughout his career. As an amateur, Lara won numerous titles including a national championship at welterweight and also participated in the 2007 Pan-Am games. The fighter originally from Guantanamo, Cuba most recently dominated Delvin Rodriguez on a June 12 PBC card.
A former world champion at welterweight, Zaveck was a seven-time national champion in his native Slovenia, but has fought out of Germany for most of his career. The 39-year-old won a world title by stopping Isaac Hlatshwayo and went on to defend his title against, Rodolfo Martinez, Rafal Jackiewicz and Paul Delgado. Zaveck enters this fight on a three-bout win streak including his most recent triumph over Sasha Yengoyan in April 2015.