WBA Middleweight World Champion Erislandy “The American Dream” Lara (30-3-3, 17 KOs) delivered a sensational knockout over Michael Zerafa (31-5, 19 KOs) in the second round of the title fight.
“I worked so hard in training because I know that all of these fighters are coming for my title,” said Lara. “By staying ready, you don’t have to get ready. I have always said that I only need one or two rounds to size my opponent up, and I knew I had him from the very first round. That left hand shot was just a matter of time.”
After a feel out first round, Lara found a home for a vicious one-two combination punctuated by a blistering straight left that sent Zerafa down. The number one ranked middleweight contender by the WBA, Zerafa was able to get to his feet but was on shaky legs, which forced referee Allen Huggins to halt the bout 2:59 into the round.
A two-division world champion and one of Cuba’s greatest boxers, Lara has followed up a long championship run in the 154-pound division with three straight knockouts since moving up to middleweight. Boxing’s old reigning world champion, Lara landed 18 jabs in the first two rounds to set up the straight left that closed the show.
“I want to dedicate this fight to the fans that have supported me throughout my career, both from Cuba and all over the world as well,” said Lara.
#LaraZerafa #ErislandyLara #MichaelZerafa
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Lara is STILL a problem
One of the most underrated and forgotten greats. Never got the respect he deserved
Does he beat Danny Garcia?
i still believe he beat Canelo
@@fleetadmiralsakazuki Nah, as much as I wanted Lara to win he let Canelo dictate the fight and resorted to counter once he got clocked clean. He talked a good one but didn't deliver when the time came.
@@jamesharris6368bruh you a casual he outboxed canelo
Good to see Lara still got it
Yeah it is.
That kid had no business in there with Lara. Hope he's ok.
Lara has always been one of the better pound for pound boxers around. No surprise he's still at the top
But never been a one hitter quitter???
@@MartinSmith-qt3cclately he’s been getting more stoppages I know they’re not against top guys but since moving up in weight he’s been laying dudes out
It's impressive. The guy is 40 and still doing it man.
@@brianticas7671Consistency is key
@@MartinSmith-qt3cc Earlier in his career, he went on a run of four consecutive first-round stoppages. Trust me, Lara has always been able to punch.
LARA IS AND ALWAYS WILL BE 1 OF THE BEST TECHNICAL BOXERS AND ONE OF MY FAVORITE BOXERS !! CONGRATS LARA !!
Fuck yeah he deserves that win against canelo at least a 🦆 draw. He robbed against Paul . And that 3rd loss was close he decided to fight and got put down
Castillo deserved the win against Floyd , kovalev deserved the win against Ward and loma deserved the win against Haney
What I really like about him is he realized his boxing technical style wasn't going to get big fights and he changed his style up and throws a lot more now. He went from watching paint dry to action packed fighter
@@themarathoncontinues2289 You're racist
Dude is really a technician..... He beat Canelo imo...
Blinded by the jab and BOOM. Pure fundamentals.
Always loved Lara’s style. Still sharp too
GET HIM UP AGAINST DANNY GARCIA ASAP LARA TOOK NO DAMAGE HE CAN FIGHT 2MRW
Danny is overrated he will get knocked out
@@smgdigitalx bruhh i think danny go send lara into retirement as of right now
Lara been asking. Not happening
Right don’t shelf him he’s already 40 13 month lay off is ridiculous
Danny is gonna lose
Lara sparked that boy😂
Lol😂😂
Dude said MAMA MIA 😂😂
@@lokokrz.gaming must be 👁️talian 😂
Australians always getting smoked 😂
2 Australians lost to 2 Cuban blooded fighters, not a good day for Australia@@mrgonzalez4583
No one has truly beaten Lara. Lara should still be undefeated and the number 1 pfp fighter in the sport today.
Sorry Bro, that belongs to Monster Nayoya Inoue. Undefeated small wrecking ball.
Erislandy outboxed Canelo years ago. The Cuban was robbed by the so-called "judges" who favoured the mexican (who had dubious hand-wrapped as well).
Outbox lol he ran all night bro. Don't u know what outbox mean? Go watch Floyd vs Canelo if you want to know.
Old man Lara still at it.
Nice shot! Lara showing the old man strength💥 Good call by Abner Mares.
He Is afraid of Janibek. He is coward
Now Zerafa got knocked out by two Cubans, Peter Quillin and Erislandy Lara .
Hot damn how is Quillin with his Irish surname a Cubano?!
@@Sa7biUK Father escaped Cuba on a Banana boat. That's why he took the nickname of Cuban legend Kid Chocolate
Banana boat...nice comment you racist shithead @@BruteStrength99
Lara would’ve been at the pinnacle of boxing if it weren’t for that robbery against Canelo. He probably would’ve been the greatest Cuban boxer of all-time.
At best it was a draw. I've watched that fight a few times and Canelo's body work was working and winning him rounds.
I became a fan of Lara when he beat Canelo then got robbed, bro is a real problem.
Lara's career highlight was catching an L looking like a deer in headlights against a 23yo Canelo lol. if you want to see a robbery watch Lara get worked over along the ropes by Carlos Molina yet receive a draw. Molina went on to become champ before Lara and offered Lara his first title shot in a rematch on the Canelo-Angulo undercard which would've set the stage for the winners facing off, but Lara ducked the fight because he didn't want to risk catching and L and preferred talking his way into a Canelo payday instead. Lara promised to take Canelo to school but come fight night decided to ditch class instead lol, and spent the fight on his bike conceding exchange after exchange as Canelo hammered his body with power shots including in combination. And as the fight went along, it was the 23 year old Canelo who made the better adjustments picking up his defense and range whereas Lara only became more tentative and quick to concede. Canelo continued fighting champs moving up all the way up to 175 whereas Lara spent the next four years cherrypicking gatekeepers before catching another L.
Dude, he should have fought Canelo like this instead of being a marathon runner.
@@mariocervantes8101Exactly lol people hate when boxers run in fights but for some reason they have no issue with Lara doing it against Canelo. Lara lost that fight idc what any hater says
I saw that fight Lara started off good. He took the first 4 rds but then canelo Started working the body. Also remember damage matters too. When canelo clinched and cut laras cheek it was done for.
canelo beat Lara
Cleanest knock out I ever seen, dazed him with the jab and he never even saw the left coming.
That left jab was so fast I didn't see it coming.
@@user-lv1jb3nc8h SORRY? RIGHT JAB?? THEN LEFT THUNDER DOWN THE MIDDLE.
Zerafa is one of the best knocked out artists
🤣 That's a good one. Wish I could like it twice.
Love it 😂
😂😂😂
Have absolutely no clue why the WBA looked at Zerafa and decided to make him their mandatory.
Because the middleweight division is weak right now
Because he scored that vicious knockout of Isaac Hartenstein in Australia if you read the news
@@qurangotbrink15True, It is terrible, but even in that awful division I think there're more deserving contenders than Zerafa. They have Thomas LaManna at #4 and he's about to go up one in the next rankings.
@@LucieOnelol. Lara knocked him out years ago.
@@quicksilver041Yeah, he absolutely destroyed him and LaManna's gone 7-0 since then but against absolutely no one in particular.
One of the greatest to ever lace-up a pair of gloves.
Not really. When did you start watching boxing? A few months ago?
Watch boxing more, brother.
He's an absolute master of the sweet science.
he got robbed alot also
@@FreeMyBruddas He also puts fans to sleep with his boring Cuban amateur style.
Zerafa was shaking his head like "no more homie"😂
No más no más 😂😂
Dude knew another one was coming he was like ima pass 😂
LETS GO LARA
He beat Canelo
That happened 10 years ago bro, let it go already 😂
@@louioYeah yen years already..... AND He beat Canelo.
Get over it Lara lost
Go watch the fight again 😂
He did....I keep telling ppl this!! They robbed my man heavy smh
1 of the best 1, 2s in the game
Lara got a chrirurgical precision, a real sniper
I wanna see Lara vs Crawford at 160 for the WBA title
Why not Lara vs Janibek?
@@BruteStrength99Lara too old for Janibek. That dude looks like the real deal. But hopefully they unify soon
@@mikehawk8198 but not too old for Crawford? I'd pick Crawford over Janibek 9/10 times
And you'd lose when bud gets slept 😂@@BruteStrength99
@@TurnerSnell yeah right
Old man strength is real,Bad night of boxing for Australia 🦘
Lara still Sharp , I would like to see lara vs Crawford
Lara too underrated
Cubans underated
He is afraid of Janibek!!
Great to see him. Honestly feel bad for him as I definitely think he deserved more in his career.
Lara’s straight left is nightmare fuel.
Sos that ramrod right jab, that sets up that dynamite big left down the alleyway!!
Wow! as we live and breathe! the commentary had perfect timing
E. Lara need to be more active this year.
Talk about talking something into existence. Lol The announcer was hella on point 💯
Lara relying less on his foot speed and sitting down on his punches more lately. Aging like fine vino 👊🏾
That was the most i have ever seen the mental process of getting knocked out in real time. It was like he was in a daze but fully aware at the same time.
He was lost and couldn't think what to do
Congrats Champ! Lara never fail to impress notwithstanding his age.
Lara should be undefeated, he beat Canelo, Hurd and Paul Williams
I was in the building for this didn’t expect Lara to finish him like he did and so early
Lara a legend.
You can tell Lara still lives in the gym 🏋️♂️ 💪🏾 🥊💯
lara is so underrated he also outboxed canelo he should've won that fight
Negative
Very true!
Spence vs lara will be a good matchup. Two southpaws going at it.
Lara would spank Spence.
PROUD TO BE CUBAN 🇨🇺 😊
Glad to see lara back..havent kept up with him tho but he looks great still
Lara has that lethal one, two. Zerafa tried to outbox the better boxer. Weirdest gameplan. Needed to come out with that Jeff Horn dirty tactic 😂 great win Horn.
The Oldest champ in the World.. fact that so-called GGG never looked this man's way is proof he's not an all-time Great.. Lara beat Canjelo in my book and shouldve won v Hurd.. kudos to Lara for still reppin..
Lara🔥 Is still a beast the first dude to get robbed by Canelo
Can’t win a fight if all you do is run
@@themarathoncontinues2289 Roidnelo was getting head snapped back by them 1-2s Robbery
wha wha I'm a cry baby because lara didn't get the nod since he was running the whole fight
Zerafa Lucio como un enorme bulto novato, Lara es simplemente una leyenda espectacular. La experiencia viejo lobo de mar.
Lara is on of the best boxer who Knows how to figure out his opponents. Congrats champs
Lara has three losses but they've never been unanimous.
Cuban Missile Crisis is no joke
They could have picked someone from the audience who would have done better than Zerafa. Lara looked good, though.
Arriba guantanamo cuba en la casa cubano residente en México saludos y bendiciones para todos mis paisanos cubanos ...
So crisp, so well timed. He really done him in efficiently 🥊
I remember Zerafa taking Brook and Horn into deep waters. Lara flummoxed the dude.
Lara beat canelo! 😂 he been the truth!
Zerafa said No More😅
You mean No más 😂😂
Damn! Did not expect that! Lara is still Lara. Beautiful shot
Funny how people picked against Lara on forums. Now can't find anything they mentioned
When youre whole argument to betting against Lara is his age, thats a big red flag. Theres a reason he was a 4/1 favorite, the skill and experience difference is immense.
Did you see the betting odds on this fight???
@jstick9980 fully agree with you bro, but everybody claims to be an "expert" foolishness at its finest
@jayluis189 didn't have too. I know Lara's pedigree so that question don't even apply
@@GFunkEra4400 So your Original Post doesn't make sense. Who tf is picking the other random dude to win, then?
This foo started walking away before the punch even landed 😂. Canelo shaking in his boots
Easily one of the best all time Cuban boxers that went pro, at least in recent memory. Other one being Rigondeaux
Felicidad campeón
Woah 🤯 mans got sauce ♨️ viva 🙌🏽 CUBA 🇨🇺
They need to make Adames vs Lara next 🔥🔥
This is A hard Puncher Jermell Charlo gotta be not Safe😮😮
Now someone else tell me some negative comments about Erislandy Lara
He knew he felt different. Was shaking his head like this some bull shit
He knew his body wasn't reacting
Abner Mares be on point with his commentating!
Not surprised zerafa didn't last too long, Lara too much class and precision
Lara es uno de mis boxeadores favoritos, un fiel representante del estilo cubano, el canelo le robo la pelea cuando se enfrentaron
Abner Mares comments just before the knockout is PURE GOLD….
Lara walked off and left him as he was falling! 🥊💥
Lara is such a good fighter I have to see his next fight in person.
Brutal night for the Aussies
Australia isn’t exactly known for boxing.
@@johnjames2817 Phuck off Casual???? Try some RESEARCH Idiot.
His timing is still top notch
Ése recto de izquierda de Lara aún no he visto a uno que se lo halla podido quitar.
1:05 Abner: he's setting him up to land that left hand. Lara: immediately lands it and ends the fight 😮
Lara se merece una pelea mucho mas Grande. Posiblemente pueda unificar la división
Spence Vs Lara for the strap
First Spence needs to get a win to get a shot at the old man then again old man Lara will make it a boring fight with his style and if not then Spence will eat him alive 🤷♂️
I was rooting for Lara in this fight…
Im surprised Lara doesn't have more knockouts because he always been a SHARP puncher. He shoot like a laser man
He sitting down on his punches more rather than being light on his feet
@@kde214 yeah but fighters have always said he hits harder than ppl think. Austin Trout said he was the hardest puncher he fought and he fought Cotto and Canelo
Lara is so good pbc GET THIS MAN A FIGHT cmon a year is too long 7 months max imo he should fight in 4 months since this was an easy fight
Always good to see Lara
GREAT FIGHT CARD! ✊🏿🥊🔥
Hell ya Lara still got it!
T-Square. Good work again, Lara. 🥊☝🏿
Lara : hahhhhh👊🏾 Zerafa : 🥴 Janibek has join the chat....
It was Zerafa's mistake. He forgot that Lara was a southpaw.
Aussies really got themselves a big reality check this weekend 😂😂
That 1-2 combo looks similar to what Inoue did to knockout Juan Carlos Payano. 🥊
I didn’t know that Lara was still fighting! Great work! He’s the 1st man to beat Canelo!
Damn, perfect jab and then the missile hit the mark…🔥🔥
Zerafa does not belong in this league.
Lara is stone cold! They literally just finished telling the story about Zerafa & his sister right before Lara put his lights out! sheeeeeesh!
Tough weekend for the Aussies.
Erislandy Lara, The best in my book!
Los que han peleado con Lara en sus últimos combates creen que este veterano ya no pega nada y ahí está el hombre ya cambio un genio
Having boxed for a long time and I'm a southpaw, that disguised straight left when landed flush like that can do serious damage. Lara has enough pop to stop anyone.
Beautiful 🇨🇺 style
👏👏👏👏👍🏻💪yes Lara.