Canelo Álvarez vs. Erislandy Lara explained

Fight Name:Honor & Glory
Fight Date:12 July 2014
Location:MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
Fighter1:Saul Álvarez
Nickname1:"Canelo"
Hometown1:Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
Purse1:$1,500,000
Record1:43–1–1 (29 KO)
Height1:5 ft 8 in
Weight1:155 lb
Style1:Orthodox
Recognition1:WBA/The Ring
No. 1 Ranked Light middleweight
WBC/WBO/TBRB
No. 2 Ranked Light middleweight
The Ring No. 10 ranked pound-for-pound fighter
Former unified light middleweight champion
Fighter2:Erislandy Lara
Nickname2:"The American Dream"
Hometown2:Guantánamo, Guantánamo Province, Cuba
Purse2:$1,000,000
Record2:19–1–2 (12 KO)
Height2:5 ft 9 in
Weight2:155 lb
Style2:Southpaw
Recognition2:WBA (Regular) Light middleweight champion
TBRB
No. 1 Ranked Light middleweight
The Ring
No. 2 Ranked Light middleweight
Result:Álvarez defeats Lara by split decision

Canelo Álvarez vs. Erislandy Lara, billed as Honor & Glory, was a professional boxing match contested on 12 July 2014.[1]

Background

In April 2014 WBA (Regular) titleholder Erislandy Lara agreed to face former unified light middleweight champion Canelo Álvarez in a bout to be televised on Showtime pay-per-view.[2] [3]

Lara's WBA Regular title was not on the line, as the fight took place at a 155-pound catchweight and both fighters weighed in at precisely 155 lbs. Álvarez rehydrated to 171 lbs while Lara came into the ring at 166 lbs.

The fight

Lara came out in dominant fashion, utilizing a stick-and-move style and capturing the early rounds. Although Álvarez struggled with Lara's one-two combinations, Lara's punches weren't thrown with sufficient power or frequency to dissuade him from consistently pressing the fight against a retreating Lara, and he was able to hammer away to Lara's body when he had him on the ropes. Lara's lead hand played a huge role in his one-two combination's effectiveness, but his output dropped as the fight progressed and he became increasingly tentative. Álvarez was able to cut Lara with a lead left uppercut in the seventh round.[4]

After a very close and competitive fight, it went to the judges, Jerry Roth scored it 115–113 for Lara, Dave Moretti had 115–113 for Álvarez and Levi Martinez had it 117–111 for Álvarez giving him a split decision victory. Lara's clean punching, defense and movement were weighed against Álvarez's effective aggressiveness and power punching.[5] [6]

The final scorecard was controversial as many observers considered it far too wide.[7] [8]

Aftermath

Although the decision remains controversial, any talk of a rematch in the future was dismissed by Oscar De La Hoya who went on to say, "No one wants a rematch."[9] [10]

Undercard

Confirmed bouts:[11]

Winner LoserWeight division/title belt(s) disputed Result
Abner Mares Jonathan OquendoFeatherweight (10 rounds)Unanimous decision
Francisco Vargas Juan Manuel LópezNABF & WBO International Super featherweight titles (10 rounds)3rd round RTD
Mauricio Herrera Johan PerezWBA interim light welterweight titleMajority decision
Preliminary bouts
Tomoki Kameda Panya UthokWBO World Bantamweight title7th round KO
John Karl Sosa Luis Adrian BelloWelterweight (6 rounds)Split decision
Yamaguchi Falcao Jesus CruzSuper middleweight (6 rounds)1st round TKO
Jason Quigley Howard ReeceMiddleweight (6 rounds)1st round TKO

Broadcasting

align=center Countryalign=center Broadcaster
Main Event
BoxNation
Showtime

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Saul Alvarez vs. Erislandy Lara . boxrec.com . BoxRec . 2 November 2024.
  2. News: Lance Pugmire . Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez will fight Erislandy Lara on July 12 . 2 November 2024 . Los Angeles Times . 14 April 2014.
  3. Web site: Doug Fischer . Canelo Alvarez takes on Erislandy Lara in high-risk fight . ringtv.com . The Ring . 2 November 2024 . 7 May 2014.
  4. Web site: Erislandy Lara vs Canelo – Lara Film Study . https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211028/yqlazGcaP8U. 2021-10-28. YouTube . 6 October 2014 . 16 September 2015.
  5. Web site: Canelo Affirms superstar status with split decision over Erislandy Lara . Bleacher Report . 13 July 2014 . 14 July 2014.
  6. Web site: . Canelo Alvarez earns split decision . espn.com . ESPN . 2 November 2024 . 13 July 2014.
  7. Web site: Alvarez beats Lara but the debate on who 'really' won continues. Doug Fischer. 13 July 2014. Ring TV. 1 January 2022.
  8. Web site: BN Staff . Opinion split in boxing media on who won the Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez-Erislandy Lara showdown . boxingnewsonline.net . Boxing News . 2 November 2024 . 14 July 2014.
  9. Web site: Oscar De La Hoya Won't Explore Canelo Alvarez Rematch . Las Vegas Sun . 13 July 2014 . 14 July 2014.
  10. Web site: Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez wins a split decision verdict over Cuba's Erislandy Lara. Sky Sports.
  11. Web site: BoxRec - event.