Lara, 31, proved why he is so highly thought of in taking almost every round against the American to card a 119-109 (twice) and 117-111 triumph on the three judges’ cards to cement his status as WBA ‘regular’ champion.
The self-proclaimed ‘American Dream’ is chasing a fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr in 2015, although will have to join the queue behind Manny Pacquiao and the winner of Devon Alexander v Amir Khan.
Mayweather himself stole the show on the Showtime televised event without even lacing on his gloves as the ‘Money’ man called on Pacquiao to agree to fight him on May 2 in an interview with Steve Farhood.
In the co-feature bouts, Smith’s Mayweather Promotions stablemates Christoper Pearson and Badou Jack both scored wins as Pearson out-pointed Steve Martinez over ten rounds and Jack stopped Francisco Sierra in six.
Also on the bill, British welterweight Ashley Theophane improved to 37-6-1 with a ten round points victory of his own, whilst 168lber Ronald Gavril and cruiserweight Andrew Tabiti remained undefeated with first round knockouts.
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