By Ian S Palmer
The vacant WBA Jr. Middleweight Title is on the line in Minneapolis, Minnesota this Saturday, August 31st as former IBO and WBA Champ Erislandy Lara of Cuba takes on Ramon Alvarez of Mexico. The 12-round bout can be seen live on Fox and Fox Deportes in North America. Lara’s last bout was in March when he battled to an exciting split-decision draw with former champion Brian Castano in a shot at the title. Alvarez last fought in April when he beat Jose Carlos Paz via a 10-round split decision.
The 36-year-old Lara is a southpaw who now fights out of Houston, Texas. He climbs into the ring at 25-3-3 with 14 Kos under his belt. He’s elusive with a lot of boxing skills but doesn’t have too much in the way of one-punch power as his knockout ratio currently stands at 45 per cent. He’s just 5-feet-9-inches tall with a 75-inch wingspan. Lara won the vacant IBO title by beating Delvin Rodriguez via unanimous decision in June, 2015. He won the interim WBA title in June, 2013 by stopping Alfredo Angulo in the 10th round after being dropped in the fourth and ninth rounds.
As well as defending his titles against Yuri Foreman, Vanes Martirosyan, and Delvin Rodriguez, Lara also defended them against Ishe Smith and Jan Zaveck. His three defeats have all been controversial and came at the hands of former champ Jarrett Hurd by split decision in April, 2018, to Paul Williams by majority decision in 2011 and a split decision to Saul Alvarez in 2014. He also fought to a nine-round technical decision draw with Vanes Martirosyan in 2012 and a 10-round majority draw with Carlos Molina a year earlier.
Lara is an excellent technical boxer and his power may be a bit underrated. He’s often not the most exciting boxer around though, but bucked that trend against Hurd and Castano. He’s boxed 211 rounds since turning pro in 2008. Before that he enjoyed an excellent amateur career in which he won numerous titles, including three straight national crowns in Cuba as a welterweight. He has a bit of an awkward style but has become more fan friendly lately by letting his hands go and throwing more power shots. He’s sometimes dominant, too defensive and hard to hit and that can lead to boring fights.
The 34-year-old Alvarez enters the fight with a mark of 28-7-3 with 16 Kos. He’s the brother of Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez but certainly isn’t as skillful even though he’s managed to win the NABF, NABO, and IBF North American Junior Middleweight Championships since turning pro along with a couple of other minor titles. He stands 5-feet-8-inches tall with a 68-inch reach which means he gives up an inch in height to Lara as well as a big seven inches in reach.
Alvarez has been stopped three times as Brandon Rios halted him in nine rounds last November, Omar Chavez stopped him in the second round in April, 2017 and Daniel Sandoval in the second round in 2010. However, to be honest, he has a decent enough chin since he gets hit quite a bit. He’s also lost by decisions to Agustin Marquez in his pro debut, along with Jesus Aceves, Mario Lozano, and Antonio Margarito.
Alvarez’s three draws have come against Johnny Navarrete, Alejandro Valladares and Jaime Hernandez and he’s also fought a no-contest with Richard Gutierrez. His biggest wins have come against the likes of Jorge Paez Jr., Ben Tackie, Vivian Harris, Omar Chavez and Matthew Strode. Alvarez has a good workmanlike ethic and is capable of beating the best on any given night as long as he’s in top form, but usually falls short when stepping up in class.
Prediction…
Lara has tons more experience against top-level opponents and that will help him. He also has a solid chin and much better boxing skills as well as a seven-inch reach advantage. Lara can’t afford to underestimate Alvarez though. As long as Lara lets his hands go he shouldn’t have much of a problem winning the vacant belt.
