Blame it on Janibek for denying Erislandy Lara a chance to become a unified champion. Still, as it ultimately turned out, it may not be all sorrow and despair for the Cuban-American middleweight star. All’s well that ends well , and nothing proves the Bard’s timeless words better than Lara’s resounding victory over Johan Gonzalez, the last-minute replacement for Alimkhanuly, who reportedly failed doping tests.

While Erislandy Lara continues his reign as the oldest active champion in boxing, the win over Gonzalez has nonetheless sparked renewed interest in what comes next. With Alimkhanuly’s future unclear and Lara reportedly unwilling to face fellow stablemate Carlos Adames, some fans now find a Terence Crawford fight a real possibility.

Lara’s triumph triggers Crawford buzz

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