Former world champion Erislandy Lara looks to regain super welterweight crown from undefeated Brian Castana

WBA super welterweight titlist Brian Castano (15-0, 11 KO’s) will meet former world champion Erislandy Lara on March 2nd on Showtime from Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.

After a successful amateur career, Castano made his pro debut in 2012, won the (interim) WBA world super welterweight title in 2016 and became the full WBA champion in 2018.

Now, Castano will tangle with his most famous foe to date in former, long reigning WBA super
welterweight champion Erislandy Lara (25-3-1, 14 KO’s). Lara won the WBC light middleweight title in 2012 and captured the WBC (interim) world super welterweight title in 2013. He would go undefeated in 7 title defenses and would only suffer one loss from 2013 through 2017, that being a disputed, SD loss to Saul Alvarez.

Lara lost his world title in a bout with undefeated Jarett Hurd in April of last year in another close SD loss.

Now, he is back, healthy and ready to reclaim his crown.

Maxboxing had the chance to catch up with longtime Lara trainer, one of the most respected trainers in boxing, Ronnie Shields. They were in the final stages of their preparation from their home, and training base, in Houston, Texas.

Buenos Aires, Argentina’s Castano has stopped 11 of 15 opponents so Shields knows they are with a guy who has some pop.

“Castano is a good fighter, and he appears to have power, so we have to be ready for a guy who boxes but will also bring it as well”, said Shields. “Lara is a very good boxer but he can fight in tight if that the way the fight has to go, he can fight both ways, very well”, he said. “He has surprised people because he is known as more of a boxer but he can brawl hard on the inside if that’s the way the fight is going; he has no problem with that."

Lara, who has lost razor thin decisions to Paul Williams, Saul Alvraez and Jarrett Hurd (in his last fight in April of last year) still has the fire to compete with the very best and Shields says he is more motivated, mentally and physically, than ever. Despite being 35-years of age, he is a young 35. He has taken little punishment in his career, due to a very effective defense, and he is always in top condition, never getting out of shape between bouts.

“He is so ready”, said Shields. “He has had a great camp, probably the best camp of his career. Listen, he knows he can’t go on forever and he is 35 and will be turning 36 in April, so he is more motivated than ever”, continued Shields, “whatever he wants to get done in the sport he has to do it now and he knows it, he is very motivated. He’ll be coming into this bout in great shape, maybe the best shape of his career.

Erislandy knows how to make weight, he knows how to take care of his body, he has the body more of a 21-year old, not a 35-year old. He is a smart guy and he is always ready and he will be more than ready for this fight,” said Shields.

While Lara and Shields certainly aren’t looking ahead of this bout, they are confident they will emerge as a champion again and look forward to new challenges after.

“Look, we just take it one fight at a time and we evaluate after each bout what will be next”, he said. “He’d love a rematch with Hurd, or go up to 160 and face Canelo in a rematch. He just wants to face the very best. He is a champion and he wants to face the very best fighters out there."