Barclays Center, New York, USA. As part of the show, the age-old WBA World middleweight champion (up to 72.6 kg) Cuban Erislandy Lara (29-3-3, 19 KOs) beat the Irish slugger barbel Gary O’Sullivan (31-5, 21 KOs) in a frank mismatch .
Underdog occupied the center of the ring, but did not know what to do next. The Cuban shot the opponent from a distance, punched a lot in the body, and avoided the Irishman’s sweeping and readable blows.
O’Sullivan tried to impose a power confrontation in infighting, he hit the body a lot. Lara answered more precisely, but often was passive, did not develop successful moments. In the 3rd round, he broke the face of the underdog, but at the same time, the three-minute was more or less competitive.
In the 4th round, Lara countered and shocked the challenger, managed to break through the already falling underdog. He was not without problems, but still got to his feet. The gong sounded just in time – O’Sullivan was greatly shocked, obviously not recovered.
Saved by the Lara lands clean against O’Sullivan. #DavisRomero pic.twitter.com/CGTMyLyI3d
— Mayweather Promotions (@MayweatherPromo) May 29, 2022
The barbel again rushed into infighting. Despite the ever-increasing number of missed shots, he survived the 5th three-minute period.
This right hand @ShowtimeBoxing pic.twitter.com/mL1POrnP9F
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) May 29, 2022
To be honest, looking at Lara is even sadder – there is not a trace left of the previous footwork. He began to be more passive than before and even gave the challenger the 6th round. I could give away the next three minutes, but again shook me at the last second (left straight). I didn’t manage to finish it off, the gong saved the applicant again.
At the very beginning of the 8th round, O’Sullivan again missed the left straight, flew off to the ropes. The referee did a great job – he immediately stopped the fight.
What a PUNISHING left hand from Erislandy Lara…
Lara retains his WBA middleweight title @ShowtimeBoxing pic.twitter.com/oDFPSZjkpy
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) May 29, 2022
A contender for the mismatch of the year, but an even less competitive confrontation was expected, right?
Lara TKO 8.
