Canelo-Lara Equals High Stakes

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As most fight fans already know, Canelo Alvarez (43-1-1 31KO’s) will return to the ring on July 12th to face Erislandy Lara (19-1 2D 12KO’s).  The bout will be televised live on Showtime PPV and will take place at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas NV.

This fight is extremely intriguing because arguably two of the best Jr. middleweights in the world will be facing off against one another.  As a fan of the sport I commend Canelo for taking this fight and Golden Boy Promotions for putting it together.  The sport needs the best to fight the best in order for it to strive and it’s not happening often enough. As a fan, I hope fights like this continue to get made.

Saul “Canelo” Alvarez is 23 years of age 5’9 in height with a 70 ½ inch reach. Though he is only 23 years old, he is the former WBC jr middleweight champion and is a veteran of 45 fights.  His best wins are against Austin Trout, Carlos Baldomir and Alfredo Angulo.  Canelo possesses good strength for the 154lbs division as well as above average punching power.  He is extremely explosive and sometimes fights in spurts.  He has a decent jab and has excellent punch form.  He also throws very nice combinations with every punch seemingly having the same amount of power put behind them, which is something unique and special.  Alvarez also has respectable defense along with decent hand speed.

However, he clearly has problems with opponents who don’t stand right in front of him and show movement.  He had an extremely difficult time with Trout who is a boxer and in many ways the poor man’s version of Lara.  He also looked completely lost against Mayweather.  That is not a good track record to have going against another slick fighter in Lara.

Erislandy Lara on the other hand is a former Cuban amateur star and currently viewed as one of the most dangerous fighters in the division.  He stands at   5’9 in height with a 75 inch reach.  Lara fights out of the southpaw stance and would also be labeled by most observers as a boxer puncher.  He works off his jab and likes to fight on the outside.  He has good feet and uses the ring well.  He also has decent punching power though I view Canelo as the puncher in this fight.

With only twenty two fights under his belt Lara has faced many of the best fighters in the division already.  He has faced the likes of Paul Williams, Alfredo Angulo, Vanes Martirosyan and Carlos Molina.  He is mentally very tuff and as determined as a fighter can be.  However, he is susceptible to pressure fighters and has shown to be a little inconsistent.  He hasn’t always looked dominant and isn’t always the same fighter when he enters the ring as far as sharpness is concerned.  This fight is perhaps the most intriguing fight in my opinion since Matthysse v Garcia and it represents what the sport of boxing is all about, the best fighting the best!