Erislandy Lara may be a bit old, as he is 41, but the Cuban middleweight champion isn’t ready to walk away from the ring just yet. That’s the firm stance of his trainer, Bob Santos, who points to Lara’s recent knockout of Danny Garcia and his WBA title status as proof that he remains a force. "Why should he retire?" Santos asked journalist from BoxingScene. "He’s the middleweight champ of the world and nobody has dominated him."
Lara's losses - decisions against Paul Williams, Saul "Canelo" Alvarez, and Jarrett Hurd - were all debatable, with many believing he beat Canelo. Santos also reminds fans that Lara delivered a brutal stoppage over Garcia last September, the first time "Swift" had ever been halted. According to the trainer, Lara is fully capable of further big-name showdowns.
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Possible future opponents include Chris Eubank Jr., though Eubank appears almost tied up with a Conor Benn fight, forcing Lara to assess other routes. Still, with the way he dismantled his last several foes, including Garcia and Michael Zerafa, the veteran champ feels he’s far from done. "He’s performed incredibly," Santos insisted. "Why would he retire if nobody has ever dominated him?"
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