By Reynaldo Sanchez

Junior middleweight Erislandy Lara is working hard for his bout with Ronald Hearns, which is scheduled to take place on a Showtime televised tripleheader, where Jermain Taylor will face Caleb Truax and also Gary Russell Jr. will face Dat Nguyen. The event takes place at The Beau Rivage Resort and Casino in Biloxi, MS. Lara 15-1-1 (10 KOs) is preparing strongly for his next fight against Hearns, which is scheduled for a ten round distance.

Lara is training strongly alongside strength conditioner Edward Jackson in Houston, TX.

“We are looking for explosivity and power, without losing speed. Lara is a sportsman with big physical advantages and we are focusing to get a balance between his skills and his natural advantages as a boxer, and to arrive in excellent shape,” Jackson said.

“I’m very satisfied with my team, [Ronnie] Shields and Jackson. They demand the best of me in each training session and I understand that it’s the only route to achieve our goals. It’s hard and exhausting work. I know that we will arrive in ideal condition to defeat Hearns on April 20th in Biloxi,” Lara said.

“In Houston I have less distractions, and here in Texas I have everything that I really need. Our training camp is run without alterations and run in the company of my children and wife, as they give me the balance and the safety that in other occasions I didn’t’ obtain. Also, in Texas is where my conditioner and trainer live and we know that after this fight we will be ready to get a title shot versus any of the current champions in the super welterweight division."