Fight Pick & Preview – Lara vs. Trout:
In a very interesting 154-pound bout, Erislandy Lara and Austin Trout will battle in Brooklyn for the vacant WBA Junior Middleweight Title. Lara and Trout are two of the top guys in the division. Trout lost to Canelo, but has beaten Miguel Cotto. Lara is coming off a knockout of Alfredo Angulo and should have a win over Paul Williams, falling victim to an unconscionable set of scorecards. The winner of this battle of southpaws is smack in the thick of things in a division with a lot of possibilities.
- Date: December 7, 2013
- Site: Barclays Center, Brooklyn, New York
- Weight Class: Vacant WBA junior Middleweight Title
Austin Trout, 26-1 (14 KOs), Las Cruces, New Mexico
vs.
Erislandy Lara, 18-1-2 (12 KOs), Miami, Florida
Despite the name-power of this matchup, the level of anticipation is a bit lukewarm, being that each fighter is considered more of a scientific boxer. While it’s true that both are ultra-skilled boxers, there have been recent indications that they make for exciting fights. Trout, 28, has vast boxing skills built over an 8-year career. His widely-scored win over Cotto is a testament to his ability. And Lara, 30, is a decorated Cuban amateur of high distinction who has been able to translate his skills to the pro game.
Lara is an angular southpaw whose results have not always been as good as his skills would indicate. In both of his draws, against Carlos Molina and Vanes Martirosyan, he appeared to have the ability to separate himself from those guys, as the bouts were closer than they should have been. His only “loss,” to Paul Williams, was an absurd decision. Still, Lara had the ability to perhaps stop Williams and let him hang around. Hopefully, he now “gets it,” as he showed by putting the pedal to the metal in his last bout against Angulo. Still, Lara saw the canvas twice in that bout, due in part to his more aggressive approach.
Lara has a ton of skills, honed by years fighting on the ultra-demanding Cuban amateur circuit. He has good awareness in the ring and possesses a high ring IQ. He is a hard worker in the gym and can take a pretty good punch. His best weapon is a booming southpaw left, though he may have more trouble finding a home for it in this fight, with Trout fighting out of a left-handed stance and being pretty slick in his own right. Against a right-handed fighter, that southpaw left has the perfect alley to find an opening. With a lefty, the opponent’s right hand will be the lead hand and is more apt to block that shot.
The whole Canelo thing painted Austin Trout in a bad light. Trout lost to Canelo, who was then seen getting schooled by Mayweather. It made Trout look bad. But not everyone is Mayweather and Canelo is in fact a top 154-pounder, so we shouldn’t be so harsh in our appraisal. And Lara is a completely different kind of fighter, so whatever was problematic about the Canelo matchup for Trout won’t really be at play in this fight.
This should be an educated bout, an even contest between two highly-capable practitioners of the Sweet Science. Trout perhaps has more overall physical strength, his chin is a tad better, and he gets a little more out of his skills in terms of bottom-line results. Lara, however, is flashier and his work is more eye-catching. The Cuban’s ring education is a notch better and he hits harder with a single shot. At the right side of the equal sign, you have a well-fought and close 12-rounder.
Trout vs. Lara Prediction
This may be a better fight than some are anticipating. Each man is hungry and in dire need of a win here to solidify their standing. The winner stands to earn millions, with the loser being knocked off the top perch of the 154-pound division. Look for the high stakes to give way to a spirited and hard-fought encounter. At the end of the day, it might come down to a few rounds or a few punches. I see Lara and Trout both winning rounds, but Lara might be able to drop Trout a time or two and that will spell the difference in a close bout.
Prediction: Erislandy Lara wins by majority decision.
