by James Slater – There are a number of exciting and unbeaten Cuban fighters who are currently making names for themselves as well as closing in on world titles. Having defected from their homeland so as to make it at pro level, talented operators like super-bantamweight Guillermo Rigondeaux (considered by good judges to be THE best prospect in world boxing today), heavyweight Odlanier Soils and light-middleweight Erislandy Lara have brought much interest to the sport..
26-year-old southpaw Lara, currently 9-0(5) makes a pretty big jump up in class in his next outing, set for January 29th in Las Vegas. Set to meet 39-year-old Grady Brewer of “Contender” fame, Lara will be having his potentially most difficult fight yet in the paid ranks. At 26-11(15), “Bad Boy” Brewer is as experienced as can be and he is has also had good success recently – having won his last eight fights. If Lara can get himself an impressive win, especially a stoppage win, he will have certainly achieved something. Of course, Brewer, who saw a fight with Winky Wright fall through late last year, will have other ideas.
Lara had a busy year in 2009, winning seven bouts. Stepping up to the ten round distance in his last fight, back on December 12th, the 5’9″ lefty won a UD over Mexico’s durable Luciano Perez. The Cuban would-be star had no problems at all in going ten rounds for the first time. A gifted boxer who can also bang when he wants to, Lara had previously only been as far as six rounds at pro level. Can Brewer extend him again?
Brewer, should he read this article, will surely be thinking not only can he extend Lara, he can also beat him. And the fight is a good match-up. Not all “sure thing” prospects make it, and it’s still early days as far as Lara is concerned – even though he has looked very good thus far. Brewer can punch some himself, and he has shown pretty good form just lately. Returning to the ring in late 2008 after a break in 2007, the 39-year-old went on to out-point the useful Cornelius Bundradge (next up for IBF 154-pound champ Cory Spinks), and in his last two outings, Brewer won by quick KO.
I do expect Lara to continue his march to a world title shot on Jan.29th (on the under-card of the Gabriel Campillo-Beibut Shumenov WBA light-heavyweight title fight rematch), but he may well have to work hard against Brewer. But Lara has shown he can box patiently and he doesn’t make too many mistakes. With his 15 KO’s or stoppages, Brewer has shown he can be dangerous, but it would be some upset if he were to derail the Cuban – X3 if he were to put Lara away inside schedule.
With all due respect to Brewer, I feel he will likely give Lara a good learning fight and nothing more. I see Lara winning by a wide UD. A stoppage win for the prospect, though, really would be a good statement.