Although Gennady Golovkin is recognized as the most feared man in boxing, Erislandy Lara just might be the fighter nobody really wants to fight. Although he?s 22-2-2, the Cuban boxer could arguably be 26-0. His losses to Paul Williams and Canelo Alvarez, both decisions and neither of them unanimous, could have easily gone in his favor.
But people don?t talk about Erislandy Lara like they do Canelo and GGG. And although it never seems like Lara is bothered, rest assured that he has taken notice. And hopefully he?ll put himself into position to butt into the Canelo-GGG mix with a definitive victory against an old foe.
In the main event of the Showtime Championship Boxing tripleheader on Saturday night, Lara will step into the ring with Vanes Martirosyan for a second time after their 2012 fight ended in a technical draw after a clash of heads halted the fight in the ninth round. It?s a fight many believed that Lara won.
It?s not necessarily the biggest fight that can be made in boxing, but it could shake up the junior middleweight and middleweight divisions depending on how things transpire in Las Vegas.
?I?m not surprised that I?m fighting Vanes again,? Lara said to RingTV through a translator. ?It?s my job to fight whoever they put in front of me.?
That?s exactly what Lara has done throughout his career. He?s never been one to shy away from a challenge. When his last 10 opponents are run down to him (Jan Zaveck, Delvin Rodriguez, Ishe Smith, Canelo, Austin Trout, Alfredo Angulo, Martirosyan, Freddy Hernandez, Ronald Hearns and Williams), Lara shrugs and reiterates: ?I fight whoever it is they put in front of me.?
Lara agrees wholeheartedly with those who believe he won the first affair with Martirosyan but recognizes the need to end things a little more definitively this time around.
?The difference this time is that both of my hands are healthy,? Lara explains when asked if there will be a change in strategy when they meet again after four years. ?I don?t feel any pressure. I?m just going to do my job and just keep winning. As long as I keep winning, everything will take care of itself.?
Lara tells RingTV that he?d love another shot at Canelo but he really has his sights set on Gennady Golovkin should he get past Martirosyan. But he?s also aware that he doesn?t necessarily carry a marquee name with him heading into his fights. At least, he doesn?t have a big enough name yet.
?After I win Saturday, I would love to fight GGG or Canelo, but I would prefer GGG,? Lara explained. ?It?s frustrating that I?m not fighting the biggest names all the time. I?m a headliner.?
He laughs when asked about Canelo fighting at a catchweight and when asked about a potential Canelo-GGG fight. Not because he thinks it?s a joke, but because he?s a firm believer in the best fighting the best opposition out there to find out who the king of the mountain truly is.
?I think it?s funny because he tried to fight in his own made-up weight class,? Lara tells RingTV. ?If you want to be a middleweight champion, fight a middleweight. I?ll fight them both.?
But he?s not going to look too far ahead because he has to take care of business on Saturday night before he thinks of disrupting the Canelo-GGG party.
?I?m just going to keep winning.?
