Confident Lara makes Martirosyan defence in rematch, Charlo clashes with Trout
Published:
Lee Gormley | May 20, 2016
Erislandy Lara v Vanes Martirosyan
- WBA and IBO light-middleweight title fight
- Sunday, May 22nd
- Scheduled for: 04:00 BST
- The Cosmopolitan, Las Vegas
- Live on BoxNation
Lara makes Martirosyan defence
Three-and-a-half years after a technical decision draw in Las Vegas, Erislandy Lara and Vanes Martirosyan will finally meet for an awaited sequel back in Sin City, as the pair look to settle the score with the WBA and IBO light-middleweight titles on the line.
Reigning champion Lara (22-2-2, 13 KOs) and familiar challenger Martirosyan (36-2-1, 21 KOs) saw their 2012 world title eliminator halted by the referee just 26 seconds into the ninth round because of a huge gash over the latter’s left eye from a clash of heads, forcing proceedings to go to the judges’ scorecards.
Two of the judges overseeing the bout had split their choices while the third assured a draw with an 86-86 outcome, and Armenian-American slugger Martirosyan has since been hunting down a rematch with arguably the world’s best 154-pounds.
Cuban slickster Lara was eventually crowned world champion following the draw and is now on a run of three straight victories since being edged out by Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez in 2014, making him odds-on 8/15 with Coral to make it four successive wins by outpointing rival Martirosyan in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Cuban ace Lara targets Canelo and ‘GGG’
Martirosyan has came up against some of the best in the division since his initial draw with Lara, going the distance with both Jermell Charlo and Demetrius Andrade in losses and also overcame Willie Nelson by unanimous decision, with the 30-year-old now 5/1 to cause an upset in Nevada.
Although, talented champion Lara is highly confident of downing ‘the Nightmare’ and is already looking ahead to bigger and better bouts with the likes of Gennady Golovkin, as well as a rematch with Mexican superstar Canelo.
“After I win Saturday, I would love to fight ‘GGG’ or Canelo, but I would prefer ‘GGG’. It’s not frustrating that I’m not fighting the biggest names all the time. I’m a headliner,” stated the Cuban southpaw, who is 5/2 for a knockout success this weekend.
“I don’t feel any pressure. I’m just going to do my job and just keep winning. As long as I keep winning, everything will take care of itself.”
Neither fighter for this main event has been stopped so far in their respective careers, but odds of 9/4 can be had on the contest not going the full 12 rounds, as Lara looks to make a successful defence of his WBA and IBO light-middleweight straps and edge towards more lucrative outings.
Austin Trout v Jermall Charlo
- IBF light-middleweight title fight
- Sunday, May 22nd
- Scheduled for: 03:00 BST
- The Cosmopolitan, Las Vegas
- Live on BoxNation
Charlo aiming for strong defence against Trout
On an exciting undercard at The Cosmopolitan, Austin Trout will attempt to claim the IBF light-middleweight title from current champion Jermall Charlo, who is making the second defence of his crown after retaining it with a fourth-round KO of Wilky Campfort in November.
Charlo (23-0, 18 KOs) stopped Cornelius Bundrage inside three rounds last September to become world champion and the undefeated American is 5/4 to secure a third successive KO victory over Trout (30-2, 17 KOs) in Vegas.
Though ‘the Hitman’ faces a challenger hoping to continue a career resurgence, with the 30-year-old now at the stage where he needs a win to avoid being set back again, following four consecutive victories since back-to-back defeats to Canelo and Lara in 2013.
Albeit those victories have come against relatively weaker opposition, but Trout did manage to secure success over an out-of-sorts Miguel Cotto in 2012 and will need another solid showing to become a two-time world champion, which he is 5/2 to achieve this weekend by beating Charlo.
Champion Charlo ready for battle
Trout was previously installed as the mandatory challenger to face Liverpool’s Liam Smith for his WBO strap, but instead opted to face Charlo than fulfil his obligations to take on Britain’s ‘Beefy’, and he is 4/1 to secure a points decision in Sin City.
Unbeaten Charlo is regarded as one of the best younger fighters in the 154lbs division and the 26-year-old is ready for his latest battle, which he is 13/8 to win by decision.
“I”m going into the fight as if I don’t have a title,” Charlo stated. “I’m prepared for the worst and the best of Austin Trout.
“Austin Trout is a familiar name, familiar face around me and around the boxing world. I’m just as prepared as I was for Campfort and as I was for Bundrage. We trained very hard. He know that we are going into the fight expecting to get ready for a battle.”
It’s not only a huge night for IBF light-middleweight title holder Jermall Charlo, but also for his identical twin brother Jermell (27-0, 12 KOs), who is younger by just one minute and a 13/8 shot to stop John Jackson (20-2, 15 KOs) for the WBC belt on the same card.
The siblings recently celebrated their birthdays ahead of fight night, as they attempt to become the first ever twin brothers to hold world titles in the same division on what could be a historic night in Las Vegas.
Related
Coral’s top tip: Back Erislandy Lara to comfortably outpoint Vanes Martirosyan and defend his world titles in the main event at 8/15.
