• Submitted by: manso
• Sports
• 03 / 25 / 2011

---

Erislandy Lara has knocked out his last four opponents in the first round; could be headed for stardom. By Ray Brewer. Thursday, March 24, 2011 . Image. Courtesy Warriors Boxing. Erislandy Lara’s last four fights have ended with first-round knockouts.

The southpaw Lara (15-0, 10 knockouts) will put that streak on the line Friday against Carlos Molina during a 10-round super welterweight bout as part of ESPN’s Friday Night Fights inside the Chelsea Ballroom at The Cosmopolitan. It’s the first card at the Cosmo, which opened in late 2010 on the Strip.

Molina, who is a formidable 17-4-1 in his career, has never been knocked down and is considered a significant step up in competition for Lara.

“Carlos is a durable guy. He has beat a lot of contenders,” Lara said through an interpreter. “So, for me, this is a great opportunity.”

“I’m not really worried about the fight because I train hard for every opponent,” he said. “I have fought the best in the world. I know I am fighting a veteran, but I don’t have any doubts I will win.”

Another strong performance by Lara, who is ranked No. 5 in the WBA and No. 10 in the WBC, could put him in the conversation for earning a shot at a title fight. Some already feel he’d be a worthy challenger for the likes of Miguel Cotto or Sergio Martinez.

“He just seems to be special. He has that something special about him,” said Leon Margules, president of Warriors Boxing and Promotions, which is promoting Friday’s fight.

The 27-year-old Lara, who defected from Cuba in 2008, was the welterweight world champ in 2005. He also won three straight Cuban national titles from 2005 to 2007. Amateur titles don’t necessarily translate into professional success, but Lara has had relative ease his in brief career.

That is expected to change against Molina.

The veteran Molina has twice went the distance with Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., including in 2005 when he was undefeated and lost a controversial decision.

“If Lara beats Molina, it would definitely be a feather in his cap,” Margules said. “It’s a step-up fight for Lara against a very, very solid opponent. Molina is slick. He will come right at you. We believe this fight won’t end early.”

Promoters also feel the venue will offer fans a vantage point they aren’t used to.

The 1,600-capacity Chelsea Ballroom will include a VIP club section that is situated eye-level to the ring and designed to feel like a night club. Most of the $250 tickets have already been sold for this area, where fans will be 10 feet away from the ring and have an open bar, Margules said.

“(The Chelsea Ballroom) is really a beautiful facility,” Margules said. “It will be very unique with the club section. It will feel like you are in a Vegas club.”

The next card at the Cosmo, which is set for April 29, will have a more unique setting — on the Boulevard Pool deck.

Source: www.lasvegassun.com/news/2011/mar/24/fighting/