When you talk about pure boxing IQ, Erislandy Lara is always in the conversation. The Cuban southpaw, long considered one of the most difficult puzzles in the sport, is now 42 years old and heading into a middleweight title unification bout against Janibek Alimkhanuly on December 6 at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio.
Before fight night, Viva Houston sat down with Lara to talk about his adopted home in Houston, carrying the flag as one of the last great Cuban masters, his longevity, and why he believes Janibek is in for a frustrating night.
Houston Still Feels Like Home
Lara may have been born in Cuba, but he made it very clear that Houston is part of his story.
He talked about building his career out of the city, raising his children here, and how much Houston still means to him on a personal level. For him, Houston isn’t just where he trained – it’s the place where most of his professional journey took shape and where his family roots now live.
For a fighter known worldwide, Lara still carries Houston with pride. Inside and outside the ring, he sees it as a key chapter in his legacy.
The Last Great Cuban Master – And the Responsibility That Comes With It
Lara is widely viewed as one of the last active great Cuban technicians – part of a rare generation of fighters who turned a lifetime of amateur experience into world-class professional success.
He doesn’t run from that label. He embraces it.
He explained that the responsibility is handled the same way he’s handled every major phase of his career: focus, discipline, and work in the gym. For Lara, staying sharp technically, staying dedicated to preparation, and keeping the Cuban style alive at the highest level is part of his mission.
Age 42 – Still Fuel, Still Problems
Most fighters are retired or faded by their early 40s. Lara is unified champion, still winning, still dangerous.
He knows questions about age are coming every interview. Instead of dodging them, he uses them as motivation. At 42, he said he feels he’s proved again and again that he still has “gasolina” – enough fuel to compete and win at elite level.
The key, according to Lara, is how little damage he’s taken over the years. He pointed out that in fight after fight, he’s come out clean, not absorbing the kind of punishment that shortens careers. That’s not by accident – it’s the Cuban style at work: hit, don’t get hit, and keep your body fresh so you can keep going when others slow down.
Why His Style Still Frustrates Everyone
Lara’s style has frustrated some of the biggest names of this era. He reminded everyone that no one has ever dominated him – not Canelo, not Jarrett Hurd, not Paul Williams.
His philosophy is simple: make opponents miss, make them look bad, and make them pay.
He described himself as a complicated fighter by design. He doesn’t like to get hit, and he builds his entire approach around that. By staying one step ahead defensively and forcing his opponents to miss, he says many of them end fights mentally exhausted and frustrated, not just physically tired.
That’s the trap he plans to set again on December 6.
Janibek’s Style vs Lara’s Experience
Lara broke down Janibek’s style with the calm of someone who has seen every look possible in the ring.
He sees Kazakh fighters as a blend of Russian and European styles – usually strong, often technical, more counter-punching and mid-range than the all-out pressure of a typical Mexican fighter. In his eyes, they’re not as naturally aggressive as Mexican fighters, and most of them prefer that middle distance where they can pick spots and counter.
But Lara doesn’t buy into the idea that Janibek is some unsolvable monster at 160.
He questioned the level of opposition on Janibek’s résumé and pointed out that the champion has never shared a ring with a fighter of his caliber and style. So when he hears Janibek say this fight won’t be difficult, Lara doesn’t argue – he just says December 6 will answer that. His message is clear: it’s easy to talk before the fight; it’s different when you’re actually trying to hit him for 12 rounds.
Why Studying Tape Isn’t Enough
Janibek has said he’s been studying Lara for years. Lara doesn’t put much stock in that.
He explained that watching film and actually being in front of someone are two different worlds. You can watch how a fighter reacts to certain styles, certain opponents, certain situations – but once you’re in the ring with them, just you, him, and the referee, everything changes.
Lara said that’s one of the reasons he doesn’t obsess over studying opponents. He prepares himself, trusts his experience, and adapts in real time. In his mind, you can’t fully understand him until you’re actually in there trying to solve him – and by then, it’s usually too late.
Is Janibek the Toughest Test of His Career?
Lara is respectful, but he doesn’t inflate the moment.
He acknowledged that Janibek is a champion with two belts and hunger, which is why this is a unification fight. But he pushed back on the idea that this is the toughest test of his career.
His record speaks for itself: he’s fought bigger punchers, more experienced champions, and higher-profile names. For him, Janibek is another strong opponent who still has to prove he can handle a fighter at Lara’s level.
Janibek, in Lara’s words, has dreams and ambition – but now he has to measure himself against “one of the best in the division.”
The Secret to Longevity: Train Hard, Take Little Damage, Protect Your Body
Lara also used the interview to send a message to young fighters who want a long career.
He stressed the importance of training hard, staying disciplined, and protecting your body. He pointed out that he rarely comes out of fights badly marked or seriously hurt, and that’s a big reason why he’s still a champion at his age.
To Lara, longevity in boxing isn’t just about talent – it’s about taking the sport seriously every day, not just under the lights.
What He Wants to Prove on December 6
At this point in his career, Lara says there’s not much left to “prove” in a general sense. He’s already done that. What he wants now is very specific:
On December 6, he wants to beat Janibek. That’s the statement.
He also had a message for the loudest fans online – especially those from Kazakhstan who have been flooding his social media. He told them to watch the fight and see how they feel after the final bell.
To his own fans, especially those who have followed him since 2008, Lara offered thanks and reassurance: he’s calm, focused, training hard, and fully committed to giving them one more world-class performance.
