Erislandy Lara is at the point of his career – he’s 37 now – when those who have followed his long, successful journey begin to discuss his legacy as one of the best Cuban-born fighters of all time.
Lara himself isn’t ready to go there, though. Still has more to accomplish, he said.
The oh-so-crafty southpaw returns to the ring after a one-year hiatus on Saturday, when he’s scheduled to face second-tier opponent Greg Vendetti behind closed doors at Microsoft Theater in downtown Los Angeles on FOX.
Lara (26-3-3, 15 KOs) is coming off a second-round knockout of Ramon Alvarez, the brother of Canelo, in August of last year. However, that followed a split-decision loss to Jarret Hurd and a hard-fought split draw with Brian Carlos Castano, which have led some to believe that Lara is slowing down.
Vendetti (22-3-1, 12 KOs) is among them.
“I’ve approached this fight like I’m getting the best version of Lara that’s ever existed,” he said on a conference call. “I’m not taking him lightly at all. But if you look at his performances as of late, it’s not the same Lara you saw against [Alfredo] Angulo and Canelo [Alvarez] years ago.
“The agility is not there as much. It almost seems like he’s doing just enough to try to win these fights and not really going the extra mile to dominate.”
Lara’s response to that notion? Not so.
The one-time amateur star, whose style has always been effective but never particularly pleasing, has said that entertaining fans will be a priority as long as he continues to fight. Some take that to mean he has no choice but to engage because he can’t move as he once did.
And he told BoxingScene.com that, “At my age, I have to pace myself more.”
Still, when asked directly whether he has lost a step, he said in so many words that he can do everything he has always been able to do in the ring. And the disappointments against Hurd and Castano had no impact on his confidence.
“I feel better than ever,” he said through a translator. “I’ve been working hard, I’m staying in great shape. I feel better than I did a couple of years ago. I couldn’t be feeling better. I’m ready to go fight Saturday.
“… I never lost confidence, if that’s what you’re thinking. Regardless of any circumstances after the Canelo fight or the Jarrett Hurd fight, I always believe in my abilities in the ring. That belief is still very strong. I’m willing and able to fight anyone in the division at any time.”
That attitude isn’t likely to change anytime soon. Lara said he’ll know when it’s time to walk away and that time isn’t near.
And the former junior middleweight titleholder, who lost his belt to Hurd, is still thinking big. His goal is to become the undisputed 154-pound champion and has no doubt he can get there. That’s his focus, his passion, not the thought of moving on.
“It’s really about how I feel,” he said about retirment. “And I feel that I can still do a lot of winning, that I can have a lot of success. I haven’t set any time frames for myself. When I have the feeling I’m not the same, that training is a drag, if some up-and-coming youngster got the best me, it would be time consider it.
“Right now that’s not on my mind.”
In other words, he added, “I still have a lot to accomplish. I still want to bolster my standing as one of the best Cuban fighters.”
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