Friday, July 20, 2007


Jul. 20, 2007 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) --
Jesse Lara was a young Oak Cliff lightweight who'd built a promising pro boxing career by the time he waded into a scuffle at a late-night party six years ago.

'Wrong time, wrong place,' he said. 'That's where I got shot.'

One bullet passed through his coat but missed Lara. Another shattered a bone in his right wrist. Doctors told him he wouldn't box again for at least two years.

As it turned out, Lara went 38 months between bouts. Since his return, he has won all seven of his fights, four by knockout. Tonight, Lara will take another step toward rebuilding himself as he fights in the main event -- his first time off the undercard -- of the Texas Slug Fest in Irving.

Lara, 27, is 13-1-1 with nine knockouts. He faces Gilbert Elizondo, 4-0, from San Antonio in a welterweight bout.

Lara said the gunshot wound actually helped his boxing career.

'It took me off the streets, made me more focused on what I can do,' he said. 'It made me grow up.'

Lara has the standard-issue boxer's buzz cut, gold-rope neck chain and forearms full of tattoos. But he loses the tough-guy aura as he hauls his wife's purse, laden with baby bottles, to the playground of a local McDonald's.

The father of three small children, Lara drives a truck by day. But he hopes that a win tonight will land him televised fights and bigger paydays.

'He's got a chance to move up to the next level, to your ESPNs or your HBOs,' said Wayne Harrison III, promoter of today's match. 'We'll find out.'

Harrison said he was especially impressed by Lara's 2006 fight at American Airlines (NYSE:AAR) (NYSE:AMR) Center, on the undercard of the Evander Holyfield heavyweight bout. Lara was knocked down twice by Scott Ball but came back to score a knockout in the fourth round.

'To show the heart to get back up twice and win by a knockout, that's spectacular,' Harrison said. 'He's a tough kid.'

Lara said that after the second knockdown he returned to his corner to find Joe Lara, his trainer and father, wondering if the fight should be stopped.

'I said, 'Don't worry, Pops, I got him.' '

His father, a former kick boxer, has trained him since he was a Golden Gloves fighter at 13. A left-hander, Lara said his best ring asset is his aggression. 'I just keep coming.'

He prefers to work inside, on the opponent's body.

'I like to make them cough a little bit, maybe see what they had for breakfast,' he said.

Lara is a bit older than many pro fighters at this stage of his career, but he says he could last another 10 years in the ring. 'I take care of myself,' he said.

He rubbed the 8-inch surgical scar on his wrist and recalled the words of the doctor who sewed him up after the shooting.

'He told me, 'You're lucky; maybe you're meant for something,' ' Lara said. 'God did this for a reason, and I'm going to take it for that.'

Fighters make their professional debuts

Allen boxer Antonio Reyes will make his professional debut on the Texas Slug Fest card. Reyes, who had a 26-1 record with 24 knockouts in a six-year amateur career, will meet Rick Pena of Dallas in a junior lightweight bout. Pena is also making his pro debut.

TEXAS SLUG FEST

Today, Lindero Ranch, 101 N. Rogers, Irving

Five bouts. First bell, 7:30 p.m.

Tickets: $25, $35, $75

Information: texasslugfest.com, 972-757-2223

Newstex ID: KRTB-0046-18274981


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