Road Block: Erislandy Lara and Ishe Smith clash in their route back to the top

By Peter Wells:

It can be a strange transition for any Cuban boxer. Not only must they adapt to life in a new environment that brings along a whole host of temptations, they must also become accustomed to being shunned in some boxing fans views as elite fighters. Erislandy Lara couldn't have proved himself as a world class fighter any more than in his two previous outings, but despite utterly dominating Austin Trout and being edged out contentiously by Canelo Alvarez, the “American Dream” finds himself on a Friday night Showtime card, acting as a prelude to Amir Khan vs Devon Alexander tomorrow night.

Erislandy is not the only Cuban to be struggling to create the same buzz that his talents deserve. Guillermo Rigondeaux’s consistency as an utter boxing genius has led him to find it a difficult challenge securing television network interest. However, unlike Rigondeaux, Lara has been unable to find the consistency to make him a major player on the pound-for-pound scene.

Sadly Ishe Smith is unlikely to bring the excitement fans crave in an Erislandy Lara match. This contest has similar ingredients to that against Vanes Martirosyan, when Lara fought to a technical draw. Smith owns a similar technical style that can sometimes be set alight given the correct opponent. 

Smith 26-6(12) will see this as a final chance to contend for the world title that he lost so un-inspiringly last September against Carlos Molina. That IBF Light Middleweight belt now belongs to Cornelius Bundrage, and while this shall be for the WBA ‘regular’ Light Middleweight title, the winner may look at a Bundrage fight as a big possibility, even though the WBA 'Super' champion is Floyd Mayweather Jr., which will leave many to consider the winner tonight as the legit WBA titleholder, with Floyd now full commited at Welterweight. 

All while the WBA continue to alienate boxing fans, it's unlikely that Lara 19-2-2(12) will be paying too much attention to the silverware up for grabs. In his first contest since his defeat to Alvarez, a fight Lara insists he won, Lara will be looking at the bigger picture. 

2015 has the potential to be a huge year for the Cuban, but he must not look past the awkward Smith. Should Lara slump into a slow pace then he gives the Las Vegas fighter every chance of causing the upset tonight in Texas.

The pick is for Lara to use similar tactics to the one’s he applied against Trout, firing often and accurately from longe range, while using his superior movement to frustrate his 36 year old opponent. At 31 Lara doesn't have any time to waste, and while he won't make short work of Smith, I have an inclination that he can become the first man to stop Smith, although that all depends on how much Lara wishes to step it up in the latter stages.