Erislandy Lara Proves He Is for Real on Solo Boxeo Tecate

This Friday night on Spanish network Telefutura's Solo Boxeo Tecate Erislandy Lara (15-0, 10 KO) knocked out Delray Raines (18-9, 13 KO) in the first round.

Lara, the former 2005 amateur world welterweight champion from Cuba who is now ranked No. 11 WBC, No. 6 WBA and No. 7 IBF at the 154 lbs junior middleweight division, destroyed Raines with a one-two combination that floored him.

Earlier in the week I had written an article about this matchup and that I was not overly impressed by Lara as he hasn't fought a top-15 ranked boxer yet.

I mentioned that Ronald Hearns (26-1, 20 KO) had knocked out his opponent tonight, Raines, in the first round in April of 2010, and that David Lemieux (25-0, 24 KO) had done the same in the second round in December of 2009. Hearns is ranked at No. 10 WBO at junior middleweight while Lemieux is ranked No. 2 WBC/WBA at middleweight.

So as a guide to get a better idea where Lara stands, it would be interesting to see if he could knock out Raines in the first or second round like Hearns and Lemieux had done, or if the fight would go the distance.

Lara, who is trained by Ronnie Shields and promoted by Golden Boy Promotions, surprised me as I witnessed the out of nowhere a surprising combination that Lara nailed Raines with that ended the fight.

The announcers of the bout on Telefutura mentioned that Lara is set to face next the winner of a matchup between junior middleweight WBA interim champion Rigoberto Alvarez (26-2, 19 KO) against No. 1 WBA junior middleweight ranked Austin Trout (21-0, 13 KO) for the vacant WBA junior middleweight world championship that will be held January 29, 2010 in Guadalajara, Mexico.

Lara has a lot going for him as he is a southpaw, still young at 27, plenty of amateur experience and a solid trainer and promoter behind him (Ronnie Shields and Golden Boy Promotions).

I have a strong feeling Lara will be ready for the winner of Alvarez and Trout and the chance of acquiring his first professional world title.