Erislandy Lara has been a dominant figure in the junior middleweight category for more than ten years. However, he is now moving up to the middleweight class to chase further success. Currently holding the WBA title, he will defend it against former two-division champion Danny Garcia in a catchweight match on the undercard of the Canelo Alvarez vs. Edgar Berlanga event at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas this Saturday.
Lara, positioned as No. 4 by The Ring in the middleweight division, is thrilled to finally compete against Garcia after their paths have crossed on several occasions. Lara respects Garcia’s abilities but is confident that his own proficiency in ring intelligence, agility, and accuracy will give him an edge in the fight.
Even though the middleweight limit is set at 160 pounds, the bout will be fought at a catchweight of 157 pounds, a weight that Lara finds comfortable. Following a recent victory over Michael Zerafa, Lara believes that his active performance in the ring will offer him an upper hand against Garcia, who is returning from a 26-month break.
Despite being in the later phase of his career, Lara is focused on enhancing his legacy and taking on significant challenges. His manager, Bob Santos, is optimistic about Lara’s ability to convincingly defeat Garcia.
While the matchup between Lara and Garcia may feel like a missed opportunity from the past, it will be intriguing to witness what both fighters bring to the table at this stage of their careers. The fight is scheduled to be broadcasted on DAZN Pay-Per-View at 8:00 p.m. ET/ 5:00 p.m. PT.
