Photo by Tom Casino/Golden Boy Promotions
Rob Anthony, Contributing Writer
Erislandy Lara vs. Austin Trout might be the best fight between two fighters near the top of a division and both in or near their primes. This is a fight that can go either way. Neither fighter has a big name that resonates outside of hardcore boxing circles, but hopefully one of them can distinguish themselves with a decisive victory. I’m gonna give Trout a small edge for beating Miguel Cotto and being extremely competitive with Canelo Alvarez in a big time main event fight. Lara hasnt quite fought at that level yet.
Prediction: Trout
Gabriel Polanco, Contributing Writer
Tough Cuban, Erislandy Lara, goes up against New Mexico’s own Austin Trout in this Junior Middleweight bout. Both are great fighters who fight in a southpaw stance. This toss-up fight is going to go the distance with the beginning rounds resembling something of a mirror dance routine. I do believe the difference will be Lara’s amateur pedigree and it will shine through towards the later rounds to pull away a close unanimous decision.
Prediction: Lara
Jose Sotomayor, Contributing Writer
Austin Trout will be the aggressor here. As always, Erislandy Lara will bring his superior boxing skills and amateur pedigree to the ring. Lara, coming of a victory against Alfredo Angulo, showed great heart and a tough chin. We cannot discount Trout’s recent battles with Canelo Alvarez and Miguel Cotto. He has shown that he can hang in there with the elite level fighters. In spite of that, he has slowed down in late rounds.
Prediction: Lara
Brendan Montenegro, Contributing Writer
This will definitely be a good fight, and it is a hard fight to predict. Trout suffered his only career loss at the hands of Saul “Canelo” Alvarez and will be looking to regain his championship form. Lara is coming off a hard fought duel with Alfredo Angulo that was stopped in the 10th round in which he went down twice in the fight. The fight will start out slow before Lara takes over and outboxes Trout. Lara will not damage Trout as he did Angulo, but in the end it’s all the same. A win is a win.
Prediction: Lara
Alex Burgos, Editor-in-Chief
Erislandy Lara can easily be undefeated, but he has gotten a raw deal in a couple of fights. Austin Trout believes he got a raw deal in his last bout against Canelo Alvarez, so it will be interesting to see if either man takes the initiative and fights a different type of fight. We’ve seen that both men can be knocked down, but have the wherewithal to get up and continue fighting. I think this bout will be chess match, but not a total snoozer. I like Lara by close decision.
Prediction: Lara
