Erislandy Lara is no stranger to fighting adversity, but is he ready to fight for a title?

Erislandy Lara isn’t your typical boxing prospect. As I watched him easily dispatch Willie Lee within one round on ESPN2’s Wednesday telecast, I remember it wasn’t long ago when Lara was fighting for his life in order to pursue his dream.

As an amateur Lara was the toast of Cuba. With over 300 bouts on his resume he was a heavy favourite to medal in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, but he had other plans. Unwilling to continue as an amateur he was determined to move onto bigger and better things; He wanted to become champion of the world. Despite the severity of his actions, in 2007 Lara made his first attempt to defect from Cuba to the United States. Unfortunately, his plan was sabotaged as he was discovered and arrested. Shortly after his release, he bravely made his second escape. This time he was successful in exiling himself from the island he once called home. He sacrificed everything: his family, friends, possession’s, everything except the bare necessities and a single purpose in mind.

Flash forward three years later and the Cuban refugee remains undefeated as a professional and is making an impact in the 154 pound division. With each contest, Lara’s stock and popularity steadily increase bringing him one step closer to fulfilling his lifelong goal of winning a title.

To this point Lara’s career has progressed flawlessly, gaining an abundance of exposure headlining Friday night fight cards or competing on HBO PPV show cases. His management team has brought him up diligently which is conveyed through his gradual rise in competition. In January the southpaw sensation was tested against experienced contender Grady Brewer. A veteran of the science, he holds notable wins over former champ Steve Forbes and current IBF light middleweight king Cornelius Bundrage, yet Lara picked him apart with ease winning nearly every round en route to a 10^th round stoppage. Just two months later Lara would prevail over Danny Perez, a former title challenger with well over 30 wins under his belt.

Lara’s latest victory proves his readiness for the top 10 in the division, but is it too soon to face the belt holders?

There’s no doubting Lara’s skill set. Inside the squared circle he demonstrates maturity and poise beyond his years. Though not the heaviest puncher, Lara picks his combatants apart with a precision attack and is unyielding when they display any signs of hurt. There’s no question he can compete with the best, but unlike the current kings of the division Lara is yet to be truly challenged. The likes of Miguel Cotto, Paul Williams, Cornelius Bundrage, Alfredo Angulo, Antonio Margarito, Kermit Cintron and Yuri Foreman (to name a few at light middleweight) have all been pushed to the brink and their ability to deal with those obstacles are what determined whether or not they become champions.

I wouldn’t be surprised to witness Lara walk a path similar to Yuriorkis Gamboa, a fellow Cuban defector who won the WBA crown after 15 pro fights. Eventually on Lara’s journey for a title he will encounter an opponent capable of testing him and only then will we know if he is truly ready to sit atop the throne