Ishe Smith Doesn't Blame Lara For Taking Canelo Shot

By Edward Chaykovsky

Former IBF junior middleweight champion Ishe Smith has no hard feelings with Erislandy Lara, who withdrew from their May 2nd clash, scheduled at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. Lara, the WBA's 'regular' champion at the weight, is going to face Saul "Canelo" Alvarez in the main event of a Showtime Pay-Per-View on July 12th at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Smith will still fight on May 2nd, but against a different opponent.

“It’s all about the numbers. If I had the same opportunity as Lara did, I probably would have done the same thing, so I’m all right with it,” Smith told the Las Vegas Review Journal.

“I should know who I’m fighting in the next couple of days. All I can do is stay busy in the gym and be ready. The disappointing thing is we spent a lot of money and time preparing to fight a southpaw in Lara. Now, we have to go back to the drawing board and start over.”