Erislandy Lara

Erislandy “The American Dream” Lara (born April 11, 1983) is one of boxing’s premier southpaw technicians, a Cuban-born stylist who captained his national team, won world amateur gold in 2005, then famously defected and rebuilt his life and career in the United States. Turning pro in 2009, Lara’s blend of patience, footwork, and laser-straight left hands quickly propelled him up the ladder. Even his early setbacks fueled his reputation: a hotly disputed majority-decision loss to Paul Williams in 2011 became a cause célèbre, highlighting Lara’s clean punching and ring generalship against volume pressure.

His rise at 154 lbs featured standout nights and belts alike. Lara survived two knockdowns to stop Alfredo Angulo, then schooled Austin Trout to cement his status among the division’s elite. In 2014 he dropped a razor-thin split decision to Canelo Álvarez in a tactical chess match that split the pundits, but the result didn’t dull his shine; he went on to collect the WBA super welterweight title (regular and super versions) and unify nights with his signature jab–left hand rhythm and glide.

Lara’s most dramatic 154-lb chapter came in 2018 versus Jarrett Hurd, a grueling unification war decided by a late knockdown that swung a split decision. He regrouped to claim another WBA strap by dismantling Ramón Álvarez and outclassing Greg Vendetti, then moved up to middleweight and kept on winning. In March 2024, he blasted Michael Zerafa in two rounds to make another successful defense, underlining that his timing and economy remain elite weapons.

Now a Cuban-American citizen and longtime Miami favorite, Lara stands as a rare veteran whose style has aged gracefully: minimal waste, maximal accuracy, and the calm of a man who’s seen every look a prizefighter can.