Greg Leon: What's the latest and greatest? When can we expect to see you back in the ring? Erislandy Lara: "The latest is I'm just relaxing, I just came back from the WBA convention, it was a great experience there with the WBA in China and now I'm just back and getting back to training and getting ready to fight." Greg Leon: You've already been in the ring with the best, what is keeping you motivated at this point of your career? I mean you've got enough money, you've accomplished quite a bit, what's your motivation? Erislandy Lara: "You always want to keep adding to your history. I feel like I'm still young and fresh in the ring and I feel as sharp as I ever felt. I made a change in my training bringing back (Ismael) Salas back into my corner. Ronnie Shields is a great coach and he and I had a great run, but it was time for a change and now I'm looking forward to continuing to fight the biggest names in boxing, whether it's the smaller guys or the bigger guys at 160. You know I'm not the biggest 154 pounder, but I'd still be ready and willing to fight the best at 160."

 

GL: Do the best fighters in the world have a name? Is there somebody specific you can give me that you really want to dance with next year or what?

 

EL: "I don't need to call names, everybody knows who the top guys are and I'm ready to fight any of the top guys, up or down. I'm going to be at the gym and waiting for that next call to let me know who I'm going in with it."

 

GL: Can you move up to middleweight and come back down to 154 at your age?

 

EL: "I'd be able to go up and come down, it wouldn't be a problem."

 

GL: When do you expect to have some solid info as it relates to your next fight?

 

EL: "Hopefully in the next month, the next few weeks maybe. I'm going to be sitting down with my team and putting together a plan and figuring out who's next and when."

 

GL: Tell us why Luis Ortiz is going to win the Deontay Wilder rematch.

 

EL: "He's going to win because a great fighter. He's an experienced fighter with a great pedigree. Everybody knows he was winning the first fight, the major flaw he made in that fight was he got tired. Now he's in better shape and he's ready to fight so I'm going with King Kong by knockout."

 

GL: Closing thoughts.

 

EL: "I want to thank you and Boxingtalk for always reaching out and covering myself and the other Cuban boxers for the last 20 years. I'm happy I was able to get two fights in this year and I look forward to doing the same thing in 2020 and making it another big year."