Ishe Smith hoping Lara will come to fight

By Boxing News - 12/10/2014 - Comments

SMITH LARA - MEDIA WORKOUTS-0822(Photo credit: Stephanie Trapp/SHOWTIME) By Jim Dower: Former IBF junior middleweight champion Ishe Smith (26-6, 12 KOs) is counting on WBA World junior middleweight champion Erislandy Lara (19-2-2, 12 KOs) looking to mix it up on Saturday night in their fight at the Illusions Theater, in San Antonio, Texas, USA.

Smith figures that it’ll make his job much easier if Lara comes at him trying to punch it out rather than if he chooses to move all night long and box his way to a decision.

Smith does well against sluggers, and he might have an advantage over Lara if he decides he wants to sit down on his punches rather than run like he did against Saul “Canelo” Alvarez last July.

“We’ve prepared for the best possible Erislandy Lara on Friday,” Smith said. “Whatever he brings to the table we’re ready for. He may shock everyone and want to stay there and fight. I’ve been hearing reports that he wants to be the first to knock me out so that means he has to fight. I’m excited about that. We’re just prepared for anything he may bring.”

Smith did a good job of beating former IBF 154 pound champion Cornelius Bundrage in their fight last year. Smith neutralized Bundrage’s power with his excellent defense and he did enough on offense to win a decision. However, in his first defense of his IBF title, Smith was beaten by the crafty Carlos Molina by a 12 round split decision last year in September.

Smith needs to do whatever he can to let his hands go in this fight to try and impress the judges, because if he gets caught in a boxing match against Lara then his chances of winning the fight are slim and none.

Smith has to try and lure Lara into a war and then look to outwork him the same way that Saul “Canelo” Alvarez did. That’s not going to be easy though, because Smith doesn’t have the same offensive skills that Canelo does. Chances are good that even if Smith does choose to punch with Lara, he’ll come out on the losing end in the fight.



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