IBO
Jr. Middleweight world champion Erislandy Lara successfully made the first
defense of his world title with a dominant third round stoppage of former IBF
Welterweight world champion Jan Zaveck on Wednesday night at Hialeah Park
Racing and Casino in Hialeah, FL. A
fight card that was significantly impacted by rain and caused a delay of the
fight, Lara wasted no time in his bout against Zaveck once the green light was
given for the bout to take place.
Lara
began this fight fighting in the pocket and not using as much lateral movement
as is usually his norm, perhaps due to the condition of the ring canvas that
was covered with a tarp during the weather delay. Lara’s accurate counter
punching and hand speed were simply too much for Zaveck, who was staggered by a
straight left hand midway through the first round.
Lara
continued picking his spots in the second round throwing and landing his
punches in between Zaveck’s wide punches. Lara would stagger Zaveck for the
second time with a straight left hand in the closing seconds of round two.
A
combination by Lara early in round three would cause Zaveck to momentarily
extend his hand as if he wanted to touch gloves with Lara before turning his
back as Lara continued to throw punches causing Referee Telis Assimenios to
step in and stop the fight. It was revealed shortly after the fight that Zaveck
had said that a punch from Lara to the right side of his neck caused a spasm in
his shoulder. Official time of the stoppage was :41 of round three.
Erislandy
Lara advances to 22-2-2, with 13 Knockouts. Jan Zaveck falls to 35-4, with 19
Knockouts.
Also
on this card undefeated rising Bantamweight prospect Manny Rodriguez scored a
seventh round stoppage over Eliezer Aquino.
Rodriguez was in control of this fight from the opening bell with his
combination punching and not allowing Aquino to get on the inside where he
could land offense. As the fight
progressed rain resumed, but it did not prevent Rodriguez from continuing to
dominate the combat or the fight from continuing.
In
the third round Rodriguez would score a knockdown of Aquino with a right hand.
Aquino was penalized a point in round seven for spitting out his mouth piece.
The fight would be stopped later in the round by Referee Sam Burgos. Official
time of the stoppage was 2:44 of round three.
Manny
Rodriguez advances to 14-0, with 10 Knockouts. Eliezer Aquino falls to 17-2-1,
with 11 Knockouts.
In
the Jr. Middleweight division Daquan Arnett scored a first round knockout of
former Olympic Silver medalist Yudel Jhonson.
A right hand from Arnett staggered Jhonson and a follow-up combination
sent Jhonson to the canvas midway through round one. A right hand from Arnett sent Jhonson to the
canvas for the second time later in the round. Jhonson was able to beat the
count, but got up on unsteady legs prompting Referee James Warring to stop the
fight. Official time of the stoppage was 2:47 of round one.
Daquan
Arnett advances to 15-1, with 9 Knockouts.
Yudel Jhonson falls to 17-3, with 9 Knockouts.
In
other bouts:
Heavyweight
John Nofire (19-0, with 15 Knockouts) KO1 over Yasmany Consuegra (17-3, with 14
Knockouts) Official time 2:59 of round one.
Jr.
Welterweight Jose Quezada (9-0, with 6 Knockouts) TKO 2 over Daniel Lorenzana
(4-7-1, with 2 Knockouts) No official time available as of this writing.
Welterweight
Jeff Souffrant (2-1, with 0 Knockouts) UD 4 over Gregory Moore (1-1, with 0
Knockouts) No official scores available as of this writing.
For
Erislandy Lara, who won the vacant IBO Jr. Middleweight world championship back
in June of this year with a twelve round unanimous decision over Delvin
Rodriguez, his victory over Jan Zaveck was a statement making performance in a
division heading towards transition.
Lara also still holds interim/regular champion status in the WBA’s Jr.
Middleweight ratings.
Readers
might recall my coverage of Lara’s victory over Rodriguez when I stated that
Lara could be named full WBA champion, as Floyd Mayweather at the time had
announced his intention to relinquish the world championships he held in both
the Welterweight and Jr. Middleweight divisions. Mayweather has since retired from active
competition following his victory over Andre Berto in September of this year.
Despite Mayweather’s retirement, he is still as of this writing recognized as
WBA Jr. Middleweight world champion.
It
will be interesting to see whether the World Boxing Association (WBA) will name
Lara full WBA champion before the end of 2015.
If Lara is indeed designated full WBA champion as fighters who hold
interim/regular status are normally designated in the event of a champion
either relinquishing the championship or being stripped of it, Lara will become
a unified world champion in the Jr. Middleweight division.
Although
Lara’s fight with Rodriguez was not advertised as being for the International
Boxing Organization’s (IBO) Jr. Middleweight world championship, it will be
interesting to see whether the organization will mandate Lara to face a top
contender in its Jr. Middleweight ratings.
Current IBO number one contender Saul Alvarez successfully moved up in
weight last week and defeated Miguel Cotto for the vacant WBC Middleweight
world championship.
Lara,
who lost to Alvarez in a razor thin split decision in July of last year would
likely entertain the possibility of a rematch if the opportunity for one is
made available. This observer believes
it may be more likely that Alvarez will defend his Middleweight world championship
in a unification bout with undefeated unified WBA/IBO Middleweight world
champion Gennady Golovkin in the near future rather than seek a rematch at this
point against Lara.
For
the moment as one of three active world champions currently in the Jr.
Middleweight division, Erislandy Lara has made a strong argument for himself as
being the number one Jr. Middleweight in the world. How the division landscape will play out
following Floyd Mayweather’s retirement remains to be seen.
“And
That’s The Boxing Truth.”
The
Boxing Truth® is a registered trademark of Beau Denison All Rights Reserved.
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