Courtesy Warriors Boxing
Erislandy Lara
Thursday, March 24, 2011 | 2:05 a.m.
Related Content
Erislandy Lara’s last four fights have ended with first-round knockouts.
The southpaw Lara (15-0, 10 knockouts) will put that streak on the line Friday against Carlos Molina during a 10-round super welterweight bout as part of ESPN’s Friday Night Fights inside the Chelsea Ballroom at The Cosmopolitan. It’s the first card at the Cosmo, which opened in late 2010 on the Strip.
Molina, who is a formidable 17-4-1 in his career, has never been knocked down and is considered a significant step up in competition for Lara.
“Carlos is a durable guy. He has beat a lot of contenders,” Lara said through an interpreter. “So, for me, this is a great opportunity.”
“I’m not really worried about the fight because I train hard for every opponent,” he said. “I have fought the best in the world. I know I am fighting a veteran, but I don’t have any doubts I will win.”
Another strong performance by Lara, who is ranked No. 5 in the WBA and No. 10 in the WBC, could put him in the conversation for earning a shot at a title fight. Some already feel he’d be a worthy challenger for the likes of Miguel Cotto or Sergio Martinez.
“He just seems to be special. He has that something special about him,” said Leon Margules, president of Warriors Boxing and Promotions, which is promoting Friday’s fight.
The 27-year-old Lara, who defected from Cuba in 2008, was the welterweight world champ in 2005. He also won three straight Cuban national titles from 2005 to 2007. Amateur titles don’t necessarily translate into professional success, but Lara has had relative ease his in brief career.
That is expected to change against Molina.
The veteran Molina has twice went the distance with Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., including in 2005 when he was undefeated and lost a controversial decision.
“If Lara beats Molina, it would definitely be a feather in his cap,” Margules said. “It’s a step-up fight for Lara against a very, very solid opponent. Molina is slick. He will come right at you. We believe this fight won’t end early.”
Promoters also feel the venue will offer fans a vantage point they aren’t used to.
The 1,600-capacity Chelsea Ballroom will include a VIP club section that is situated eye-level to the ring and designed to feel like a night club. Most of the $250 tickets have already been sold for this area, where fans will be 10 feet away from the ring and have an open bar, Margules said.
“(The Chelsea Ballroom) is really a beautiful facility,” Margules said. “It will be very unique with the club section. It will feel like you are in a Vegas club.”
The next card at the Cosmo, which is set for April 29, will have a more unique setting — on the Boulevard Pool deck.
The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas dares to be different. From the hotel’s red reservations desks to fine art found throughout the resort, The Cosmopolitan’s signature style is helping to pave its own path on the Las Vegas Strip.
Upon entering the resort, you’re greeted by pillars of video boards playing video art by Digital Kitchen and David Rockwell Studio exclusively produced for The Cosmopolitan. Just beyond that, you’ll find all your favorite casino games on the resort’s 100,000-square-foot casino floor.
The Cosmopolitan’s rooms standout as the resort’s most unique feature. About 2,220 of The Cosmopolitan’s 2,995 rooms have 6-foot deep terraces that span the length of the room, a first at a modern Strip hotel. Other in-room amenities include soaking tubs, kitchenettes and quirky accessories like artsy coffee table books.
The dining experience at The Cosmopolitan isn’t something you’ll find at other Strip resorts, either. All of The Cosmopolitan’s 13 restaurateurs are new to the Las Vegas market. You’ll find American steakhouse fare in a modern setting at STK, top-notch sushi at Blue Ribbon Sushi Bar & Grill and the freshest fish flown in from the Mediterranean daily at Estiatorio Milos.
Whether the sun is up or down, Marquee Nightclub & Dayclub is the place to find the party at The Cosmopolitan. The venue is a dayclub/nightclub, complete with a pool and cabanas outside and three different rooms with three different vibes inside.
If nightclubs aren’t your thing, you can grab a drink at one of The Cosmopolitan’s five other bars, like The Chandelier, which is encased in 2 million dripping crystals.
Join the Discussion:
Check this out for a full explanation of our conversion to the LiveFyre commenting system and instructions on how to sign up for an account.
Full comments policy