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Hatton's sparmate



Erislandy Lara, a heavy-handed former world amateur champion from Cuba, has been tapped by the camp of Ricky Hatton to simulate Manny Pacquiao’s moves in preparation for the fast-approaching super showdown on May 2.
Hatton revealed that he did six rounds with the left-handed Lara when he began sparring last April 2 at the IBA Gym in Las Vegas, a private gym that also hosts Pacquiao’s workouts whenever he is around for a fight.

Lara has been described by Hatton as a “tough southpaw” and, like Pacquiao, he boasts of a sneaky and lethal left hand, the punch that has enabled him to rack up four straight wins with three knockouts since turning professional in July 2008.

“The twenty-five year old Cuban defector has only four fights, but in the two this writer has seen, Erislandy Lara is a prospect to watch. Lara against limited opposition, has shown nice hand speed, left-handed power, and technical soundness. His maturity and presence surpass the level of his competition,” wrote boxing scribe Ricardo Lois.