Lara Puts a Target on The Back of Floyd Mayweather Jr.

By Elisinio Castillo

WBA 'regular' junior middleweight champion Erislandy Lara (19-2-2, 12KOs) is returning for the first time since the July twelve round split decision loss to Saul "Canelo" Alvarez, taking place on December 12th in San Antonio, Lara is going to defend his belt against former champion Ishe Smith (26-6, 12 KOs).

Lara felt he was robbed in the fight with Canelo, which most saw as a close contest. The other loss on his record came against Paul Williams in 2011, in a fight where nearly every ringside observer viewed Lara as the winner.

"The judges saw what they saw and that's already in the past. I won more rounds and should have won, but it is difficult, especially because I'm Cuban, but we must continue to work and at some point I will get the recognition," Lara said. "I have not seen [Smith's] fights, but I know that he's a good fighter, so I have to give him a good fight."

Lara's main goal in 2015 is a fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr. (47-0, 26KOs). Mayweather is the WBC/WBA champion at welterweight, but he also has the WBC and WBA 'super' title in Lara's division of 154.

"I hope to fight Floyd Mayweather Jr. If he says he wants to fight only the best, then he's going to have to fight me. I have proven to be the best at 154," Lara said.