Erislandy Lara will remain on this Saturday’s card in San Antonio, but no longer in a unification fight. The WBA middleweight champion is now set to face Venezuela’s Johan Gonzalez after Janibek Alimkhanuly tested positive for the banned substance meldonium and was forced to withdraw from their three-belt showdown.
Lara is boxing’s oldest active male titleholder at 42, jumps straight into a voluntary defense to preserve his return to the ring after nearly fifteen months out. The Cuban veteran last fought in September 2024, when he dominated Danny Garcia before the American retired on his stool after nine rounds. His two defenses that year marked his busiest stretch since 2019.
Alimkhanuly, the unified IBF and WBO champion, had spent the year pushing for a unification and seized quickly on Lara once talks with WBC beltholder Carlos Adames stalled. Now, the Kazakh southpaw’s only battle is the one to clear his name. Shocked by the November 15 VADA result, he has requested a B-sample test — but even an immediate turnaround would not arrive in time for this weekend’s event.
The opening created a career-changing opportunity for Gonzalez. The Venezuelan puncher was already on standby and now steps into his first 12-round world title fight. He enters the matchup coming off a split-decision win over former unified champion Jarrett Hurd, a rebound from a pair of stoppage losses to Yoenis Tellez and Jesus Ramos Jr.
Lara-Gonzalez will remain on the PBC on Prime Video pay-per-view card, headlined by Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz defending his version of the WBC 140-pound title against Lamont Roach Jr.
Image Credit: ESPN