Miguel Cotto is making his decision between Canelo Alvarez and Sergio Martinez at a snail's pace, and in the time since Golden Boy offered Cotto $10 million to fight Alvarez in March, Erislandy Lara managed to throw his name in the hat.
Lara dominated Austin Trout over the weekend at the Barclays Center, and announced himself as a major player in the 154-lb. division. Trout had given Canelo fits, and lost a very narrow decision, while Lara was able to outclass him. Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer said he's been in contact with Canelo, and a decision will be coming soon.
"I will be meeting with Canelo next week," Schaefer said to RingTV.com, "and Lara is definitely now a possibility next to Cotto and Molina." Golden Boy also seems to be growing frustrated with Cotto's lengthy delay.
"I will be talking to Canelo this weekend and see what he wants to do, and we haven't heard anything from Cotto, so I don't know what's going on there," said Schaefer. "But we're not going to be sitting around waiting and wondering what is going to happen. We're going to pull the trigger on who it's going to be."
For his part, Lara's talking a big game in hopes of agitating Alvarez into accepting a challenge from the powerful counter-puncher. When asked what he'd say to Alvarez if locked alone in a room with him, Lara's answer was inflammatory.
"Look, I'm better than you, plain and simple. If you feel that you're better, then let's show the world that you're better. Let's get into the ring.' But I'm the best fighter at 154 pounds, and I'm going to continue to show that to the world."
Alvarez has gained a reputation as someone who does not duck difficult opponents, as evidenced by his insistence on fighting Trout, a defensive and awkward southpaw. Lara thinks the decision won't be up to him, however.
"Golden Boy has done a great job promoting him, and that's why he's gotten as far as he's gotten, but I feel that he's a baby, and that's all that he is."
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