Erislandy Lara: The Old Master

Meet the Old Erislandy Lara. Not the same as the old Erislandy Lara.

At 41 years old, WBA Middleweight Champion Erislandy Lara is redefining what it means to be an elder statesman in the brutal world of professional boxing. As the oldest active champion across all weight classes and the oldest champion in the history of the middleweight division—yes, even older than Bernard Hopkins was when he ruled the 160-pound weight class—Lara is a testament to the enduring power of skill, adaptation, and ring IQ.

Erislandy Lara is no longer the fighter he once was. The Cuban boxer who once relied on his blinding speed and elusive footwork is a thing of the past. Today, his reflexes aren’t as sharp, his legs don’t glide around the ring as they once did, and his overall quickness has waned with age. But what Lara has lost in athleticism, he has more than compensated for with a strategic evolution that has transformed him into a different, yet equally effective, force inside the ring.

Gone are the days when Lara’s fights were criticized as “boring,” marked by a defensive style that prioritized ring generalship and technical prowess over crowd-pleasing aggression. The modern-day Lara, the “Old Master,” has embraced a newfound aggression, turning into a fighter with a penchant for knockouts. This shift isn’t just cosmetic; it’s born from necessity and experience, particularly after two controversial decisions that didn’t go his way against Jarrett Hurd and Brian Castaño. Those setbacks seem to have instilled in Lara a determination not to leave his fate in the hands of the judges. Instead, his straight left hand has become his judge, jury, and executioner. The power was always there, but now, instead of using it to keep his opponents at bay, Lara uses it to send them to the shadow realm.

This transformation has led Lara to his next challenge—a showdown with two-weight division champion Danny “Swift” García. The fight was officially announced at a press conference in August, where Lara, ever the stoic professional, refused to engage in the war of words that García and his fans seemed eager to start. Instead, Lara confidently stated, “This is not the time to talk too much. We will talk in September. He can talk the talk and think whatever he wants. Everyone knows who I am and how I fight. We will see what happens on September 14. It is already written. I don’t have to say nothing. I will be the champion.”

Lara has had his sights set on García for over two years, fully aware of the significance and cachet that comes with a fight against the Puerto Rican star. After witnessing García’s most recent bout against José Benavidez Jr., Lara knew this was the fight he wanted, and he made sure his team pushed for it. “My team and I had Danny Garcia in mind all along. We came to see him fight against Jose Benavidez Jr. and he’s as advertised, a great champion of multiple divisions. This is the fight that the fans deserve.”

Grateful for the opportunity, Lara expressed his excitement, saying, “I’m very thankful to my whole team for getting this fight made successfully. I can’t wait to get in the ring and see everyone on September 14. Puerto Rico vs. Cuba, let’s go!”

Lara enters the bout on a three-fight knockout streak, showing no signs of slowing down despite his age. If anything, he appears to be getting better, more dangerous, and more confident in his abilities. “I am the reigning world champion, and that is how it’s going to remain until I retire,” Lara declared, making it clear that he has no intention of relinquishing his title anytime soon.

Erislandy Lara may be older, but he’s far from finished. The “Old Master” has found a new way to dominate, and in doing so, he’s rewriting the rules on what it means to be a champion in the twilight of a career. September 14 may be just another date on the calendar, but for Lara, it’s another opportunity to solidify his legacy as one of the greatest middleweights of his era, regardless of age.

Looking beyond García, Lara’s ambitions remain lofty. He has his sights set on unifying the middleweight division, aiming to prove what he already suspects—that even at 41, he is the best middleweight in the world.