By Miguel Rivera

Erislandy Lara accepted the fight with Brian Castano because it represents in a certain way an important and necessary challenge that will allow him to put his name back on the list for big fights.

Lara will challenge Argentinean Brian Castaño for the WBA "regular" super welterweight title on March 2 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. Showtime will televise.

Erislandy (25-3-2, 14 KO's) is coming back from one of the best fights of 2018, against Jarrett Hurd, which the Cuban boxer lost by split decision after getting dropped in round 12 - while Castaño (15-0, 11 KOs) comes back from a knockout loss to Cedric Vitu.

"I feel like this fight comes at my best moment, despite what happened in the last fight (with Hurd), I feel very encouraged, the fight with Hurd was close, it was a fight that the audience liked and going forward, like all my defeats, was controversial and close," said Lara to ESPN Deportes.

"Castaño is a good boxer, young, he's hungry, let's see, I'm going to give the best of me, he has the interim title, it's fine, but tell me a boxer he's fought with a name, a champion, someone of trajectory, he has not fought with anyone. They have told me that he has been talking, let's see what he says on March 2."

Erislandy says that with the passage of time he has become a better fighter.

"As I've grown, I've improved, people who know about my career know about my boxing style, I always prepare hard for all fights, all fights are the most important, only the focus is better because I want to be again champion and my managers Luis DeCubas and Al Haymon will tell me what is the best," he explained.

"I think I have enough time to show the world what I'm made of and that I can be the best at 154 pounds, and if there's nothing important, I'm willing to go to 160 pounds to face the best challenges, everyone knows we'll face everyone, this is going to be my third unbeaten opponent in a row, it is something that not many can boast."