By Jake Donovan
It appears as if Erislandy Lara has finally grasped the concept of winning and looking good doing so.
The undefeated Cuban prospect took full advantage of a showcase opportunity, wasting no time in blitzing through journeyman William Correa en route to a first round stoppage Friday night at the Softball Country Arena in Denver, Colorado.
Lara weighed 155 lb for the Telefutura-televised main event; Correa came in below the junior middleweight limit at 153 lb.
The bout began like many others in the career of Lara – at a deliberate pace, with the first round threatening to serve as a feeling out process for both fighters. Lara fought behind a tight guard and covered up anytime Correa attempted to mount an offensive attack of any kind.
Such threats didn’t last very long.
A straight left hand by Lara sent Correa reeling along the ropes midway through the round, with a follow up shot depositing the Puerto Rican into a corner, with his head slamming against the canvas and landing underneath the bottom ring rope.
Correa managed to beat the count, but it was clear that it was just a matter of time before he would eventually get got. Lara refused to let him off the hook, dialing in with uppercuts while searching for the perfect finishing blow.
The sweet spot turned out to be a body shot, which froze Correa in place before Lara bounced one off of his chin for the second knockdown of the round. Correa hit the canvas hard to where he was all but out, though he still had the wherewithal to remove his mouthpiece during the referee’s count.
It would’ve been a smart move had he been in any condition to continue. However, he wasn’t, as he drunkingly staggered to his feet at the count of eight, only to see the bout waved off by the third man.
The official time was 2:34 of the first round.
Lara improves to 12-0 (7KO) with the win, his third of an active 2010 campaign that has seen the Cuban step up in competition and entertainment value. Tabbed as a blue chip prospect but with little rewatchability, Lara’s last few bouts have managed to maintain the interest of his viewing audience.
Of course, clever matchmaking also helps, which is where Correa’s purpose was found. The junior middleweight journeyman drops his second straight as he falls to 8-4 (8KO). All of his pro bouts have ended inside the distance, with all four career losses coming by stoppage and within his last six fights.
The bout was added to the card and named as the headliner earlier in the week after the original main event fell through. Lightweight contender and 2004 U.S. Olympic boxer Vicente Escobedo was slated to face Raymundo Beltran, but was forced to withdraw after suffering a viral infection.
One man’s loss is another man’s gain. Lara adds another fan-friendly win to his resume as he remains fast-tracked for a possible title shot by year’s end.
DERRICK WILSON RESUMES SPOILER ROLE
A year after scoring a major upset in the hometown of his previously undefeated opponent, Derrick Wilson once again found a way to send the locals home disappointed.
The Florida-based prospect came out blazing, twice dropping Denver-born super bantamweight Ricky Lopez in the opening round and holding off the local favorite long enough to take a well-deserved majority decision in their six-round featherweight scrap.
Scores were 56-56, 57-55 and 58-54 in their fast-paced shootout.
Wilson didn’t waste any time in making his presence felt, flooring Lopez with a left hook less than 30 seconds into the contest. Another knockdown came later in the round, providing Wilson with a three-point cushion on the scorecards after just three minutes of action.
Realizing he needed to turn things around in a hurry in order to give his old hometown fans good reason to cheer, Lopez pressed the action for every second of the fight from the second round on. It was a wise strategy in that it discouraged Wilson from believing he could bully the house fighter, but not enough to completely erase the early hole in which he fell.
To his credit, Wilson kept a cool head, enough to realize that a knockout was unlikely despite the explosive start, at which point he made the transformation to boxer. Switching back and forth between southpaw and conventional, Wilson found a way to control the real estate when it mattered the most, namely whenever Lopez threatened to rally.
Both fighters had their say over the course of the six-round chief support, and their efforts were aptly reflected on the final scorecards. Lopez bravely battled back to turn a blowout into a nailbiter, but ultimately fell just short of leaving the ring with his undefeated record still intact.
Instead, the courageous prospect suffers his first loss as a professional as he falls to 7-1 (2KO).
Wilson improves to 7-1-2 (2KO) with the much needed win. Less than a year ago, Wilson put his name on the map with his shocking one-minute destruction of previously unbeaten Charles Huerta in Los Angeles. The win was supposed to launch the Floridian to greater heights, but subsequent bouts sorely lacked in momentum, going a dismal 1-1-1 in his past three fights.
Friday’s win was his second straight, but by far his most significant achievement since the upset over Huerta. More importantly, once again winning on the road helps provide proof that the shocking knockout win a year ago was no fluke.
The show was presented by Golden Boy Promotions.
Jake Donovan is the Managing Editor of Boxingscene.com and an award-winning member of the Boxing Writers Association of America. Contact Jake at JakeNDaBox@gmail.com.
