Erislandy Lara has said he doesn’t owe Canelo Alvarez anything other than left hands as he prepares do battle with the Mexican superstar this weekend. Despite being one of the divisions most avoided fighters Lara says isn’t indebted to the former unified champion for taking the fight.
The 31-year-old has earned a reputation as a slick and polished competitor having honed his skills in the fabled Cuban amateur system. Having fled the Communist state and his home of Guantanamo to establish his career as a professional fighter, victory for Lara will see him fulfill a lifelong ambition of becoming one of boxing’s very best.
Lara, who has only lost one fight in his 22 as a professional, that being a controversial points loss to Paul Williams in 2011, has vowed to do a number on Alvarez, a fighter who he believes is the perfect style for him.
Here’s what Lara had to say:
“I don’t owe him anything other than left hands. I forced this fight. It wasn’t because he wanted to take this fight [that he agreed to fight].
“We’ve been after this fight for two years and I’ve been putting pressure on social media and interviews and jumping on stage, that’s what pressured him to take this fight.
“I know he didn’t want this fight, and on July 12th you’re going to see the reason why he didn’t want this fight.
“I wanted to come to this country and fight the best. That’s what I wanted to do since my seventh professional fight.
“I was asking to fight for a world title. And championships come and go, but these are the types of fights that will leave history, so that’s what I plan on doing on July 12th.
“I always want to stand up and show why Cuban boxing’s the best – that’s what I’m going to do on Saturday.
“It’s a good style match up because I know Canelo’s going to try to press forward and press for action, and that’s a style I like. I like guys that come and fight, and I pick them apart, like I’ve done to several guys coming up.
“These are the fights I like. I like guys who come to fight and I like to put them in the dirt, and that’s what I plan on doing.”
The much respected trainer Ronnie Shields, who has trained the likes of Evander Holyfield and Mike Tyson, will be in Lara’s corner for the fight and agrees with his charge, though he says his power in this fight will compliment his skilled southpaw counter-punching.
“I think those guys with the come forward styles really complement Lara’s style. But at the same time Lara punches harder than people give him credit for, and on Saturday July 12th you’re going to see that,” said Shields.
“I think if you look at him everything has improved. I think there’s just an improvement in him on him being just a pure boxer. He’s probably one of the best counter punchers out there. You’re not going to find anybody else better.
“Lara, he fights anybody and everybody. Lara asked for this, he asked for every fight that he’s been in basically because nobody wants to fight him. He only wants to fight the best fighters, and this is why you’ll see him fight on July 12th with Canelo Alvarez,” he said.
