Lara's Return Eyed For November, Wants Kirkland, Smith

By Elisinio Castillo

According to manager Luis DeCubas Jr., the return of WBA 'regular' junior middleweight champion Erislandy Lara (19-2-2, 12 KOs) is being targeted for November. Lara has already returned to gym. Last month he suffered a close and some called controversial majority decision loss to Mexican superstar Saul "Canelo" Alvarez at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

"We are making plans for Lara to step into the ring as soon as possible and it seems that it will be in November. Along with [his adviser] Al Haymon, we're going together a strategy to keep Lara at the top and give him a better future," DeCubas told George Ebro.

There are two names being looked at as possible opponents, James Kirkland and former champion Ishe Smith. Lara was scheduled to face Smith earlier this year, but the Cuban boxer withdrew to face Canelo in July.

"This is a fight that will serve as a launching point to a new stage in the career of Lara,'' said DeCubas. Al Haymon has assured me that there will be more and better things in his way and in his next fight he will get a seven-figure sum. So he will be fine."