On Wednesday, November 25, at Hialeah Racing Park & Casino in Hialeah, Florida, WBA World super welterweight champion Erislandy Lara (21-2, 12 KOs), the clever southpaw from Miami, Florida, by way of Guantanamo, Cuba, will defend his title against former IBF World welterweight champion Jan Zaveck (35-3, 19 KOs), from Magdeburg, Sachsen-Anhalt,, Germany, by way of Ptuj, Slovenia, who is currently ranked #8 by the WBA.
The fight will be televised live in the latest edition of PBC on ESPN starting at 9 PM/ET.
At the age of 39, Zaveck is on the downside of his career. He has lost two of his last six fights, to Andre Berto in 2011 and Keith Thurman in 2013, and fought just once last year. But he is a rugged competitor and one of the few fighters willing to fight the exceptionally crafty Erislandy Lara.
The bout will be the 32-year-old Lara’s third defense of the title his won in 2014 by defeating Ishe Smith at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.
“I’m very excited to be defending my title in my hometown of Miami,” said Lara. “Getting in the ring with a former world champion and an experienced fighter like Jan Zaveck is something I’m very much looking forward to. On November 25, I will put on a show for all my fans and especially all my Cuban fans watching on ESPN.”
Lara’s style isn’t to everyone’s taste. Those who like fighters who brawl will never cotton to the Cuban’s refined skills. But one need only watch his 2014 fight with Canelo Alvarez, which was a split decision loss in Canelo’s favor, and which many thought Lara had won, to appreciate what the man who calls himself “The American Dream” is capable of doing in the squared circle.
“I am aware that this will be one of the toughest fights of my career,” said Zaveck. “I respect Lara and I will prove that I am on the same level. I am aware that I am the underdog and that I am coming into Lara’s living room. I am coming to Miami to chase my dreams and surprise everybody.”
It’s not only his dreams that Zaveck will be chasing. He’ll also be chasing, and not catching, the fleet-footed Erislandy Lara.
This article was penned by the author who is not related to the WBA and the statements, expressions or opinions referenced herein are that of the author alone and not the WBA.
