Erislandy Lara

Erislandy Lara Santoya, ( born April 11, 1983 in Guantánamo ) is a Cuban boxer.

Amateur

Even in 2003 and 2004, he lost four times against his compatriot and double world champion Lorenzo Aragon, to which he never came over. After Aragón in 2005 ended his career, hit Lara Yudel Jhonson Cedeno its national rival several times and qualified for the World Cup. There he won the rematch against his Russian conqueror Andrei Balanow, who had previously defeated him at the World Cup in Moscow, the Americans Melson Boyd and sensational in the semifinals of the Kazakh Olympic champion and top favorites Baqtijar Artajew ( 31-22 ) struck before he decided the final against Magomed Nurudinow from Belarus for themselves. Just another Kazakh, Baqyt Särsekbajew could beat him in 2006 and 2007, twice.

Professional career

In July 2007, he sat down with the double Olympic champion and world champion Guillermo Rigondeaux at the Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro by the Cuban team from and signed a professional contract with Arena Box-Promotion. However, they were apprehended a short time later without valid visas in Brazil by the Brazilian federal police and returned to massive pressure from the Cuban Government to return to Cuba. In June 2008, then Lara succeeded by speedboat to escape from Cuba in the direction of Cancun in Mexico and came upon receipt of provisional entry papers to Germany. Rigondeaux succeeded in February 2009, the flight to Miami, and also signed with Arena. Together with Yuriorkis Gamboa and Odlanier Solís they form a training team in Miami.

9 July 2011 Lara suffered his first defeat as a professional in a WBC eliminator against Paul Williams on points. The judges score, however, was highly controversial.