WBA middleweight champion Erislandy “The American Dream” Lara will defend his title against late replacement Johan Gonzalez thia Saturday (December 6th) at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. Lara was originally scheduled to face two-belt champion Janibek Alimkhanuly, but Alimkhanuly failed a VADA doping test. The Lara vs. Gonzalez fight be part of a PBC pay-per-view broadcast headlined by reigning WBA 130-pound champion Lamont Roach facing former 140-pound title holder Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz for the WBC interim title at 140 pounds. Here is what Lara and Gonzalez had to say at a PBC press event earlier this week:
ERISLANDY LARA
“I’m just focused on fighting, no matter who the opponent is. I’m not even gonna mention that guy’s name cause he doesn’t deserve it.
“I’m glad to be on this big card. It means a lot. We’re gonna go out there prepared and see what our opponent does and take it from there.”
JOHAN GONZALEZ
“I’m really excited about getting this opportunity. I’m here and I’m here to win. I’m here to shock the world.
“Before the fight against [ex-154-pound champ] Jarrett Hurd I trained hard, stayed disciplined and got the win. This is no different. My fundamentals and my hunger to be the best will make the difference. [Gonzalez defeated Hurd earlier this year].
“I’m gonna put on a show for everyone. I’m not gonna let anyone down. That’s the most important thing to me.
“I’m still coming down to earth about the excitement I’m feeling to get this opportunity. On Saturday it will be a new feeling to become world champion.
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A native of Valencia, Venezuela who now trains in Las Vegas, Gonzalez (36-4, 33 KOs) earned a career-best victory in his last outing as he used his power-punching prowess to best former unified 154-pound champion Jarrett Hurd in March. Prior to that fight, Gonzalez had dropped an October 2024 showdown with rising star Yoenis Tellez. He had previously recovered from a May 2024 defeat against top contender Jesus Ramos by stopping Ivan Herrera in two rounds in August of last year. Gonzalez made his stateside debut in 2023, earning a pair of victories in the U.S. by first stopping Ricardo Ruben Villalba in August before defeating Guido Emmanuel Schramm in November. The 34-year-old won those fights following a close 2022 decision defeat to former world title challenger Magomed Kurbanov. A pro since 2017, Gonzalez won his first 22 bouts before dropping a split decision in 2018.
In his last fight, Lara (31-3-3, 19 KOs) stopped the durable former two-division champion Danny Garcia in September 2024. He captured his WBA title with a first-round knockout of Thomas LaManna in May 2021, before KO’ing Gary O’Sullivan and Michael Zerafa. Prior to his middleweight exploits, Lara was the longest reigning 154-pound world champion before he lost a tough split-decision to Jarrett Hurd in a 2018 title unification match that earned “Fight of the Year” from the BWAA. Lara returned from that fight and battled former 154-pound world titleholder Brian Castaño to an exciting draw in another narrow fight that could have gone Lara’s way. He faced a slew of the top 154-pounders in the sport, including Canelo Álvarez, ahead of his middleweight debut.
