Erislandy Lara seems to be sipping from the fountain of youth, but tough Australian Michael Zerafa hopes to have something to slip into his drink.

They meet for Lara’s WBA middleweight title at the T-Mobile in Las Vegas as the third fight on the PPV headlined by Tim Tszyu vs. Sebastian Fundora on Saturday (March 30). 

Lara has not been an active champion, but he’s an elite talent who completed only a very light and brief amount of shadowboxing at yesterday’s public workouts at the MGM Grand.

He fought once in 2020, once in 2021 and last boxed in May 2022, and this fight itself has been months in the making as Lara tried to get a defense against Danny Garcia over the line, without success. Zerafa had to be patient, but it caused the Australian plenty of frustration. He has not boxed since November 2022.

Zerafa has since linked up with future Hall of Fame fighter Nonito Donaire as his trainer, and while Lara-Zerafa might have been a long time coming, the boxers clearly have plenty of respect for one another.

Southpaw Cuban Lara – “The American Dream” – is 40-years-old and a two-weight beltholder who turned over back in 2008. He pushed Canelo Alvarez all the way to a split decision in 2014 in a fight some felt he was unlucky to lose and Lara’s lost just once since, to Jarret Hurd in 2018, although a draw with Brian Castano followed that. The Cuban won the vacant middleweight title against Thomas LaManna and he’s defended it just once, against Gary “Spike” O’Sullivan.

“I am really happy to be back here, and I want to thank everyone for their support,” Lara, 29-3-3 (17 KOs) said, inside the MGM Grand during fight week. “I’m looking forward to this weekend.

“Zerafa is a high-quality fighter. He’s here for a reason, he’s a contender and on March 30, we will see who is better.”

Lara won his first world title a decade ago, but says he is inspired to improve, even as the years tick on.

“The motivation comes from the day to day, from the training, from wanting to get better each and every day and I can guarantee you that at my age, I feel in great shape both physically and mentally. I’m ready to go,” said the veteran champion. 

Then, asked how much longer he felt he had in the sport, Lara added: “I’m taking things year by year, let’s see what happens next year, too, but I’m focused on this Saturday and I’m winning this fight, taking things step by step. I’m going to give the best of me and I hope to come out with the win on Saturday night. That’s all that I can do.”

Zerafa is highly-motivated and has been pumped up this week. He stayed to watch Lara’s workout yesterday having completed his own and rolled his eyes and walked off after Lara did next to nothing, but Zerafa’s mind is firmly on the job at hand.

He is driven like never before.

“This is more than a fight for me,” said the challenger. “This fight is dedicated to my sister, who’s fighting her own fight at the moment. She’s suffering with breast cancer, and this fight’s for her. She’s in her own fight for her life, so 12 rounds with Lara is nothing compared to that.”

A chance meeting with Donaire and his wife Rachel at the WBA Convention led to their trainer-fighter link up, and the Donaires will be behind him on fight night.

“I’ve been lucky enough to have Rachel and Nonito Donaire in my corner, huge artillery going into this fight,” Zerafa explained. “They’ve kept me sane and kept me exactly where I need to be, pushing the pace and no stone’s been left unturned. You know, we’re here now, we’ve travelled to the other side of the world not to be an opponent, we’re here to take what’s rightfully mine.”

Zerafa is 31-4 (19 KOs), strong, well-conditioned and, at 32-years-old, likely to want to test the older man’s engine.  

“I’m a huge fan of Lara, prior to becoming an opponent,” the Australian added. “He’s a great mover but he’s getting on [in age]. I truly believe he’s held the belt for way too long, he’s just looking for a payday with Danny Garcia or one of those guys. I’m there to upset him, take what’s mine. This fight should have happened 13 months ago. I know it’s going to be a hard fight and I’m prepared for 12 rounds. I’m prepared for 15 rounds if it was [scheduled for that]. It’s 12 rounds, so be it.”

Zerafa said he thought there is a chance Lara is looking beyond him, and eyeing that eventual payday with Philadelphia’s Garcia.

“Jeff Horn did the same thing,” smiled Zerafa. “Jeff Horn beat Manny Pacquiao, then took me as a light fight and I ended up knocking him out, and I think he’s doing the same thing. He’s already looking past me and that’s a huge mistake. 

“I’m fully focused, I’ve been here before. I’ve been here when I fought Kell Brook, Peter Quillin, this is just another night for me. I’m grateful to be fighting in a huge stadium in front of all these people and I’m thankful for a lot of support – but I’m fully-focused on the job at hand.”