Highlights
–The usually mobile Erislandy Lara uncharacteristically brought the fight to Jan Zavack during a first round in which the southpaw’s straight left rocked his adversary to the ropes, where he punished him with several combinations.
–Lara again pounded Zaveck into the ropes with a straight left late in the second round, which ended with the Slovenian veteran again being punished along the ropes.
–Lara was again dominating early in the third round when referee Telis Assimenios stopped the fight at the 41-second mark as Zaveck indicated that he no longer wanted to continue, later complaining of an injured right shoulder.
Neither a rainstorm nor Jan Zaveck could deter Erislandy Lara as the Cuban-born southpaw convincingly defended his 154-pound world title for the third time with a third-round technical knockout in South Florida.
Following a rain delay, Erislandy Lara gained a third-round TKO of Jan Zaveck in an outdoor ring at Hialeah Park Racing & Casino in Hialeah, Florida. (Lucas Noonan/Premier Boxing Champions)
Lara (22-2-2, 13 KOs) was uncharacteristically aggressive as he dominated his 39-year-old rival from the opening bell, not wasting any time following a rain delay at Hialeah Park Racing & Casino's outdoor arena in Hialeah, Florida.
After having an easy time of it in the first two rounds, Lara hammered away at Zaveck (35-4, 19 KOs) in a corner of the ring in the third, highlighted by a head-popping straight left that split the guard of the former 147-pound champion.
Early in the third, Zaveck turned toward referee Telis Assimenios and simultaneously gestured with his outstretched right hand toward Lara, who nailed his Slovenian opponent with a couple of punches to the head before Assimenios stepped in to protect Zaveck and waved an end to the fight at the 41-second mark.
Zaveck said afterward that he experienced a muscle spasm in his right shoulder that he believes was caused by a punch to the right side of his neck in the final round.
The technical knockout was Lara's third straight win since losing a split decision to Saul "Canelo” Alvarez in July 2014. It was his first stoppage since he rose from a pair of knockdowns to gain a 10th-round TKO of Alfredo Angulo in June 2013.
