WBA Middleweight World Champion Erislandy “The American Dream†Lara (30-3-3, 17 KOs) delivered a sensational knockout over Michael Zerafa (31-5, 19 KOs) in the second round of the title fight.
“I worked so hard in training because I know that all of these fighters are coming for my title,†said Lara. “By staying ready, you don’t have to get ready. I have always said that I only need one or two rounds to size my opponent up, and I knew I had him from the very first round. That left hand shot was just a matter of time.â€
After a feel out first round, Lara found a home for a vicious one-two combination punctuated by a blistering straight left that sent Zerafa down. The number one ranked middleweight contender by the WBA, Zerafa was able to get to his feet but was on shaky legs, which forced referee Allen Huggins to halt the bout 2:59 into the round.
A two-division world champion and one of Cuba’s greatest boxers, Lara has followed up a long championship run in the 154-pound division with three straight knockouts since moving up to middleweight. Boxing’s old reigning world champion, Lara landed 18 jabs in the first two rounds to set up the straight left that closed the show.
“I want to dedicate this fight to the fans that have supported me throughout my career, both from Cuba and all over the world as well,†said Lara.
#LaraZerafa #MichaelZerafa #ErislandyLara
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WBA Middleweight World Champion Erislandy “The American Dream†Lara (30-3-3, 17 KOs) delivered a sensational knockout over Michael Zerafa (31-5, 19 KOs) in the second round of the title fight.
“I worked so hard in training because I know that all of these fighters are coming for my title,†said Lara. “By staying ready, you don’t have to get ready. I have always said that I only need one or two rounds to size my opponent up, and I knew I had him from the very first round. That left hand shot was just a matter of time.â€
After a feel out first round, Lara found a home for a vicious one-two combination punctuated by a blistering straight left that sent Zerafa down. The number one ranked middleweight contender by the WBA, Zerafa was able to get to his feet but was on shaky legs, which forced referee Allen Huggins to halt the bout 2:59 into the round.
A two-division world champion and one of Cuba’s greatest boxers, Lara has followed up a long championship run in the 154-pound division with three straight knockouts since moving up to middleweight. Boxing’s old reigning world champion, Lara landed 18 jabs in the first two rounds to set up the straight left that closed the show.
“I want to dedicate this fight to the fans that have supported me throughout my career, both from Cuba and all over the world as well,†said Lara.
#LaraZerafa #ErislandyLara #MichaelZerafa
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#ThurmanTszyu Fight Night Details: https://pbcham.ps/FightNight-033024
Fighters competing on the stacked inaugural four-fight PBC Pay-Per-View available on Prime Video will square off and preview their respective matchups at a Los Angeles press conference before stepping into the ring on Saturday, March 30 from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
The press conference will feature two-time world champion Keith “One Time†Thurman and rising star and reigning world champion Tim Tszyu, who meet in the main event, plus 140-pound world champion Rolando “Rolly†Romero and Mexican star Isaac “Pitbull†Cruz, who battle in the co-main event.
Also appearing at Wednesday’s event will be Cuban star and WBA Middleweight World Champion Erislandy “The American Dream†Lara and No. 1 rated mandatory challenger Michael Zerafa, who compete in a 12-round fight, and all-action super welterweight sensation Sebastian “The Towering Inferno†Fundora and streaking contender Serhii Bohachuk, who duel in the pay-per-view opener.
Additionally, WBC Flyweight World Champion Julio Cesar Martinez will be in attendance and competing in an undercard attraction on March 30.
Two-division world champion Erislandy “The American Dream†Lara defended his WBA Middleweight Title against hard-hitting Irish crowd-pleaser Gary “Spike†O’Sullivan with a RD8 TKO.
In the co-main event, Cuban star Erislandy “The American Dream†Lara (29-3-3, 17 KOs) dominated Gary “Spike†O’Sullivan (31-5, 21 KOs) to retain his WBA Middleweight Title via an eighth-round TKO.
A two-division champion who landed 54% of his power punches in the bout, Lara waited patiently for his opening against the aggressive O’Sullivan, and broke through for the first time late in round four. He sent O’Sullivan down in the closing moments of the round with a blistering counter left hand that hurt him before dropping him with a straight right hand.
“This new style that I’m demonstrating is for all the boxers to show them how I can fight now, just being able to change up,†said Lara. “He was a tough boxer, too. I’m a smart boxer, a slick boxer, that’s what I did tonight. I waited until he attacked and then I did what I had to do to win the fight.â€
O’Sullivan was again saved by the bell in round five, as Lara hurt him as the round waned with a right hook-straight left combination. Showing the precision that has made him renowned as one of the sport’s most skilled fighters for years, Lara struck again at the end of round seven, wobbling O’Sullivan severely moments before the bell rang.
After receiving attention from the ringside physician before round eight, O’Sullivan ran into another straight left hand from Lara early in the round, prompting referee Benjy Esteves to waive off the bout 23 seconds into the frame.
“I saw the opening, he was leaving himself open and that’s when the left came in and knocked him down,†said Lara. “I saw in the eighth round he didn’t have any more power and that’s when I stepped up and showed my power.â€
#ErislandyLara #LaraOSullivan #GaryOSullivan
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Erislandy “The American Dream†Lara (28-3-3, 16 KOs) delivered a one-punch knockout victory over Thomas “Cornflake†LaManna (30-5-1, 12 KOs) in the first round to capture the WBA Middleweight Title.
“He said at the press conference that he was going to knock me out, but he ran right into that punch,†said Lara. “Maybe he was overthinking it all along.â€
Cuba’s Lara became a three-time, two-division champion in his middleweight debut, after an extended run as one of the 154-pound division’s elite fighters. Lara found a home for his left hand early in the first round, and eventually timed a perfect one that caught LaManna and sent him to the mat. Referee Thomas Taylor immediately jumped in to halt the bout at 1:20 into the round.
After the triumph, Lara expressed his desire to seek out the biggest fights at 154 and 160-pounds.
“I felt strong and sharp tonight at middleweight, but I still want all of the big fights at 154-pounds too,†said Lara. “I want the winner of the Jermell Charlo-Brian Castaño unification fight. (WBC Middleweight Champion) Jermall Charlo is like family, we worked in the same gym for years, but this is a sport and I’d welcome the challenge.
“I feel great physically. I’m going to keep doing this until my body tells me I can’t do it anymore. I don’t feel like I’ve taken a lot of punishment in my career and I know I have at least another three years of my prime left.”
#ErislandyLara #LaraLamanna #Boxing
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A big Saturday in the world of Boxing was centered on the triple world title fight card that took place at America’s Barclays Center in New York, where light middleweights ruled the roost.
WBC king Jermell Charlo, 30-0 (15), put on the most impressive performance as he made short work of hotly-hyped contender Erickson Lubin, 18-1 (13), poleaxing the young Floridian in just 2:41 of the first round to notch the second defense of his crown. (more…)
WBA and IBO super-welterweight champion, Erislady “The American Dream” Lara, is truly living the American dream since he has now completed all the eligibility requirements to become a U.S citizen.
Erislandy, along with his wife Yudi, took an oath of allegiance to the United States today, solidifying their citizenship.
Lara, who made his U.S. boxing debut in Primm, Nevada, in January of 2009, is elated about gaining his U.S. citizenship. He reflects on the long journey it took to become a U.S citizen. (more…)
Erislandy Lara, the WBA/IBO 154-pound champion, scored two knockouts in his match against Yuri Foreman in Miami on Premier Championship Boxing on Spike TV last Friday night, one in the ring to retain his world titles and another in the ratings.
An average of 547,000 viewers, with a peak audience of 707,000, tuned in to watch Lara land a devastating uppercut that knocked out former world champion Foreman in the fourth round. (more…)