The underappreciated boxing brilliance of Erislandy Lara

PBP is giving an excellent break down of Lara. I hope Ronnie is working on his inside game though, and Lara is one of my favorite current boxers but his inside game is non existent

It's different, both Ali and Mayweather punched on the move. Lara operates differently in that he'll move until openings presents itself. Exactly. 3 completely different fighters. I hate when people cluster all "boxers" into one. Ali threw the jab with a purpose. Lara uses his lead hand to make you react and create an opening for a straight left. Mayweather can fight off his back foot, roll counter, slip counter, etc. Lara will use his feet to get out of dodge, then reset, create space and set up his 1-2s and 2-1s. I don't even know why Showtime crew refers to him as a counter puncher. He doesn't transition from defense to offense well at all.

Agreed. May weather started it. Most of the haters who call boxers runners r Mayweather haters and associate his brilliance with cowardice. Hence why thdy hate on any boxer such as Lara who makes their over hyped and limited (skill wise) fighters like Canelo look bad. Sad part is, it's all a disgrace to the G.O.A.T. Ali who IMO birthed the style of moving boxers. The versions today are just more refined versions of his float like a butterfly sting like a bee style. It's different, both Ali and Mayweather punched on the move. Lara operates differently in that he'll move until openings presents itself.

Agreed. May weather started it. Most of the haters who call boxers runners r Mayweather haters and associate his brilliance with cowardice. Hence why thdy hate on any boxer such as Lara who makes their over hyped and limited (skill wise) fighters like Canelo look bad. Sad part is, it's all a disgrace to the G.O.A.T. Ali who IMO birthed the style of moving boxers. The versions today are just more refined versions of his float like a butterfly sting like a bee style. this is so true I agree, the refined version now is run like chicken, throw less, counter like a butterfly. yes it hurts

Agreed 100%, ppl think that because he got caught by a puncher twice, he is weak, and to me what it shows is that he is a tough as they come, again they forgot what happened after the weight in (the 10 pounds rehydration BS only for him), the size of the ring, the slow mat and the trainer couldn't cool him down with water, he should be doing more with the tools and the heart he have... Yeah but it's up to Lara, he has this stubbornness about him that annoys me. Even if he believes he beat Canelo (Which is conceivable, could have gone either way) he has to acknowledge that he has to develop some type of infighting ability, he doesn't have to stay in close for long but work a little bit in there and pull out. Also has to variate his attack a little more...those small things would help. Just to add, I also noticed that he missed some good opportunities to throw the straight left hand to Canelo's body.

I don't see much complexity in Lara's style, that doesn't mean he isn't a good fighter and a tough outing for almost anybody. If anything, with the tools he possesses...Lara should be able to do more in the ring.Agreed 100%, ppl think that because he got caught by a puncher twice, he is weak, and to me what it shows is that he is a tough as they come, again they forgot what happened after the weight in (the 10 pounds rehydration BS only for him), the size of the ring, the slow mat and the trainer couldn't cool him down with water, he should be doing more with the tools and the heart he have...

I don't see much complexity in Lara's style, that doesn't mean he isn't a good fighter and a tough outing for almost anybody. If anything, with the tools he possesses...Lara should be able to do more in the ring. This post is spot on

I don't see much complexity in Lara's style, that doesn't mean he isn't a good fighter and a tough outing for almost anybody. If anything, with the tools he possesses...Lara should be able to do more in the ring.

Well, he had to survive the fight. Surely if he engaged further, he would have gotten stopped. I understand why he fought the way he did. He had to. And it almost worked for him. Close fight. common man, you know better than that...

Agreed. May weather started it. Most of the haters who call boxers runners r Mayweather haters and associate his brilliance with cowardice. Hence why thdy hate on any boxer such as Lara who makes their over hyped and limited (skill wise) fighters like Canelo look bad. Sad part is, it's all a disgrace to the G.O.A.T. Ali who IMO birthed the style of moving boxers. The versions today are just more refined versions of his float like a butterfly sting like a bee style.Actually Ali copy a lot from another Cuban, the WW Champion of the World Luis Manuel Rodriguez...

Lara is like a sniper. His offense is effective when he gets you targeted and in position to let loose his 1-2s, 2-1s and sometimes finish with the right hook. He uses his feet to create space, invited you in, takes a half step back, then attacks. The problem is the sniper rifle is only effective when you set your target. When your smothered or out of position what good is a sniper rifle? You better have another weapon in store or your ****ed unless you find a new location, reset, and get your target in position. It's not about being inactive or tentative. He can only create offense when he has space.

I'm a fan of Lara style but was a little too cautions against Canelo when he didn't have to be. But that might be on his trainer though because to be honest, most of Ronnie Shields fight like that. Shields I think is one of the best trainers today of teaching PURE BOXING SKILLS and The BASICS but I notice the lack of a Killer Instinct in most of his current fighters for some reason. They all fight VERY CAUTIONS: Edwin Rodriguez, Erislandy Lara, Jermell Charlo... Jermall Charlo is one that is a bit more rugged and does have a bit of a Killer Instinct but we shall see once he fights better competition. But Lara Skills can't be denied!

Lol canelo is fighting Kirkland foh and Canelo got a gift vs trout. Who Lara manslaughtered yeah, but wasn't lara dropped a couple of times vs angulo? but canelo then went on to manslaughter? i really do hope lara learned to take more risks otherwise he's going to stay on fnf.

Lara is an excellent fighter with good skills but he really blew an awesome opportunity against Alvarez.... He has no one to blame but himself...Surely Lara had to know the Canelo fight was close...He allowed Alvarez to out hustle him & constantly press the action... In his defense the cut was clearly bothering him in the mid rounds. He lost 3-4 rounds straight if I recall after he ate that uppercut.

Lara is an excellent fighter with good skills but he really blew an awesome opportunity against Alvarez.... He has no one to blame but himself...Surely Lara had to know the Canelo fight was close...He allowed Alvarez to out hustle him & constantly press the action... 100% agree with this. He really blew this fight and he has no one else to blame. He had huge momentum coming into it to and had hardcore fans behind him in a way he's never had before. But you don't deserve to win prizefights the way he fought that night, trying to win rounds by 3 punches to 2. I was rooting for him but had no complaints with Nelo getting the decision. Hopefully he learned something from the experience.

Lol Canelo wasn't stopping him bro..... Well, I guess we'll never know because Lara didn't want to fight. Had he sat in the pocket with Canelo I wonder what would have happened. I don't think it would have been good for Lara.

He's boring, I can't stand his negative fighting style Says the guy with klitschko as his avatar

My bad, brother. 9-3 either way is bullshit. I've never got why people say that If I scored it 9-3 , it doesn't mean that it wasn't a close fight It just means it could have been a fight that had many close rounds And if I prefer a certain style and am looking for clean head shots over body and hip shots then am I not being consistent in my scoring? I gave all the close rounds to one fighter because I am being consistent in how I am scoring each round and what I am looking for Yet ATG posters like sweet pea and sugar Adam Ali say my scorecard is bullsh1t Smh

Well, he had to survive the fight. Surely if he engaged further, he would have gotten stopped. I understand why he fought the way he did. He had to. And it almost worked for him. Close fight. Lol Canelo wasn't stopping him bro.....

Lara is an excellent fighter with good skills but he really blew an awesome opportunity against Alvarez.... He has no one to blame but himself...Surely Lara had to know the Canelo fight was close...He allowed Alvarez to out hustle him & constantly press the action... Well, he had to survive the fight. Surely if he engaged further, he would have gotten stopped. I understand why he fought the way he did. He had to. And it almost worked for him. Close fight.