IBO, WBA junior middleweight champion Erislandy Lara will be looking to put on a boxing clinic when he steps in the ring with IBF champion "Swift" Jarrett Hurd in a title unification from The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.
Lara is coming off a unanimous decision victory over Terrell Gausha in October. Hurd was on the same card and defeated former champion Austin Trout when Trout's corner stopped the fight in the 10th round.
At 34-years-old, some are wondering if Lara (25-2-2, 14 KOs) is on the downside of his long career.
Hurd (21-0, 15 KOs) is bigger, stronger, longer and more determined than the man who gave Lara the toughest fight of his career in 2013, which was Alfredo Angulo.
"Everyone knows I love to fight his style. I've fought better and taller fighters than him and you've seen me dominate them. It's going to be nothing different on Saturday night. I want him to come forward. That's what I'm prepared for. I'm going to give him a lesson on Saturday night," Lara said.
"I haven't watched much video on Hurd, but as we saw from the Trout fight, he's very hittable. Come Saturday night, he better have worked on some defense or it won't last very long."
Lara views Hurd as the first step toward unifying the entire division. After the fight with Hurd, Lara plans to target his old sparring partner, and current WBC world champion, Jermell Charlo.
He's even wiling to draft up a contract and have it signed on Sunday, to show his willingness to get in the ring with Charlo as soon as possible.
"I don't want to hear anything about Jermell Charlo, because Jarrett Hurd is the one who stepped up. On Sunday, Charlo can sign the contract and we can get ready to rumble," Lara said.