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A few notes from around the boxing world: • The fight has not been formally announced yet but junior middleweight titlist Erislandy Lara (19-2-2, 12 KOs) is supposed to defend his belt for the first time against former titlist Ishe Smith (26-6, 12 KOs) on Dec. 12 (Showtime) in a fight that was originally scheduled to take place on May 2. The likely site is San Antonio. Although Lara lost a decision in his last fight to Canelo Alvarez in July, he still holds a title because the fight was at 155 pounds, one over the division limit and, therefore, not a title bout. Smith lost his title in his first defense to Carlos Molina in September 2013 and, in his return, stopped journeyman Ryan Davis in the second round May 2. Smith was originally supposed to challenge Lara on that date, but when he dropped out of the fight in order to accept the big fight with Alvarez, Davis replaced him. • Heavyweight Andy Ruiz (23-0, 17 KOs) is due to take on the severely faded former titlist Sergey Liakhovich on Dec. 20 (UniMas) in Phoenix, according to Top Rank. Ruiz scored a first-round knockout of low-level opponent Kenny Lemos last Saturday. While Ruiz, 25, won easily he was in poor condition, weighing a soft 272¾ pounds, 22¾ more than his previous fight in May. The 38-year-old Liakhovich (26-6, 16 KOs) has lost three of his past four by knockout, including two fights ago to Deontay Wilder, who drilled him so badly in the first round of their August 2013 fight Liakhovich was left literally twitching on the canvas when he hit the deck and was out cold. Liakhovich won his last fight, an eight-round decision against Chad Davis, whose record was 5-11 entering the fight. • Golden Boy has announced opponents for junior featherweight Joseph Diaz Jr. (12-0, 8 KOs), featherweight Julian Ramirez (12-0, 7 KOs), junior featherweight Diego De La Hoya (7-0, 5 KOs) and Chinese heavyweight Taishan Dong (1-0, 1 KO), all of whom are scheduled to fight on “Golden Boy Live” on Nov. 13 (10 p.m. ET, Fox Spots 1/Fox Deportes) at the Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, California. Diaz, a 2012 U.S. Olympian, will face Roberto Castaneda (21-7-1, 15 KOs). Ramirez, nephew of the late former junior lightweight champion Genaro Hernandez, will face Pedro Melo (11-5-2, 2 KOs). De La Hoya, Oscar De La Hoya’s first cousin, faces Ali Gonzalez (6-3, 1 KO). Dong faces Michael Lane (0-3). • Zanfer Promotions canceled its card Saturday night in Tijuana, Mexico. The reason was because featherweight Manuel Garcia injured his right hand and was forced to drop out of the main event against former junior bantamweight titleholder Tomas Rojas (44-14-1, 29 KOs). The card was due to be televised in the United States on beIN Sports Espanol.
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