By Elisinio Castillo
IBO/WBA 'regular' junior middleweight champion Erislandy Lara (22-2-2, 13KOs) was very aggressive on Wednesday night when he faced former welterweight champion Jan Zaveck in Miami, Florida.
Zaveck, who two years ago went the twelve round distance with hard-puncher Keith Thurman, was overwhelmed by Lara. The fight was over in the third round when Zaveck was unable to continue due to some type of shoulder injury. He was being punished in every round.
Lara says his aggressive star was part of the plan after fans complained that he was too timid in his last fight, a dominating decision over Delvin Rodriguez.
"I wanted to be aggressive, take the initiative and put on a great show for the fans,'' said Lara to George Ebro. "When I was told the place was fully sold out, I felt great joy, because it breaks that lie that Cuban boxers are not able to sell tickets, that the Cuban public could care less. I wanted to help that night, I had to do my part.''
Lara's immediate plan is to secure big fights at the junior middleweight limit. If he is unable to do so, then he wants to move up to middleweight and still feels confident of beating IBO/WBA/IBF champion Gennady Golovkin (34-0, 31KOs).
"I want to clean things out at 154-pounds and if I'm not able to do that, then I will move up to 160 and throw a challenge to whoever. I have studied Gennady Golovkin, and I've discovered his flaws," Lara said.