The Cuban Erislandy Lara (19-2, 12 KOs) lost on Saturday to Mexican Saul Alvarez (44-1, 31), by a split vote in the MGM Grand hotel casino in Las Vegas. In the contested decision, the judges ruled in favor of “Canelo” 113-115, 115-113, and the surprisingly 117-111 of the referee Levi Martinez.
The 12-round bout was close from beginning to end, and everyone there imposed his style. The Guantanamo boxer attacked from behind, moving in all sides of the ring, to follow the riposte boxing Cubans master, showing patience and his majority in the pros. Meanwhile, his opponent was always forward, unveiled the courage and bravery of the Aztecs, and looked for every breath that lucky punch that would end the combat.
The verdict, criticized by most, came despite the superiority of the Cuban in impacts and won rounds. Erislandy effectively managed 107 total hits, while “Canelo” remained at 97. Regarding the assaults, the Guantanamo was better in 7 of the 12, with draws in the fifth and last.
The amateur world champion in 2005 looked great and at moments made evident his superiority over the “darling” of the promoters which again was disappointing in boxing issues. Moral: either you are so superior, or you knock out your opponent. Only then you have a chance of winning.
“I feel robbed, the judge that voted 117-111 did not know what was going on, if he was sold or what, but I beat him, I made the perfect fight, I hit him and I did not let him hit me, I made my fight, just the judges didn’t vote my way, ” the Cuban, WBA junior middleweight champion, said at a press conference.
It is valid to note that although Cuba has the division belt, the combat did not dispute any belt. The reason is that the Alvarez team considered Mayweather as the only king, who holds the title of “super champion” by the WBA.
The “failure” was the first of Lara facing an exponent of Mexico. Before he had run over Alfredo “Perro” Angulo, when he won by knockout in the tenth round; Freddy Hernandez by decision; and over Luciano Pérez, unanimously, and tied with Carlos Molina.
The function ‘Honor and Glory’ at the Garden Arena was among the 14 thousand attendees goalkeeper of the national team, “El Tri” Guillermo “Memo” Ochoa, who had a sublime performance in the World Cup Brazil 2014.
So far, the so-called “Hot Summer” of Cuban boxers has not been as expected for the stars. The two main figures who has fought left the rings crestfallen, Yuriorkis Gamboa, and now Erislandy. The good news came through Ramces Barthelemy, and now we are waiting for the combat of the world champion at 122 pounds, Guillermo Rigondeaux, the upcoming July 19.
