Michael Zerafa entered the ring with bold declarations of stealing the spotlight and claiming the WBA middleweight championship from Erislandy Lara. However, Sunday’s match took a dramatic turn as Lara’s punishing left hand sent Zerafa crashing to the canvas in the second round.
Despite a relatively quiet start to the fight, Lara’s calculated strategy came to fruition as he flawlessly executed his game plan. Setting up the devastating left hand with precision jabs, Lara retained his title while Zerafa struggled to recover against the ropes.
Commentator Abner Mares noted, “It’s not Zerafa doing anything wrong, it’s Lara doing everything right.” With Lara’s superior performance evident in the statistics – outlanding Zerafa 24-11 in total punches and 18-3 in total jabs – the Cuban champion showcased his dominance despite a 22-month layoff.
Post-fight, Lara dismissed any notions of ring rust, emphasizing his relentless training regimen. Meanwhile, boxing legend Andre Ward commended Lara’s strategic prowess and maintained that Lara, despite his age, continues to excel in the ring.
Reflecting on the fight, Ward observed, “Lara looked like he was taking a walk around the park. He was taking his time, setting up his left hand, and landed it – fight over.”
With Australian fighters facing setbacks over the weekend, including Liam Wilson’s defeat against Oscar Valdez, Zerafa’s defeat serves as a sobering reminder of the unforgiving nature of the sport.
Credit: Fox Sports Australia
