Here is an article and pic of Juan Lazcano, both seen today on the Internet:
Lazcano eager to get career back on track
Matthew Aguilar
El Paso Times
Monday, February 20, 2006
Through most of his career, the mantra of "work hard and everything else will fall into place" has served El Paso lightweight Juan Lazcano well.
Then he fought Jose Luis Castillo for the vacant WBC lightweight title on June 5, 2004, in Las Vegas.
Lazcano admits now that mantra may have been confining.
"After that fight, they ranked (Castillo) in the top 10 pound-for-pound. And that only means one thing: I was a few points away from being in the pound-for-pound lists myself," Lazcano said. "It's up to me to get it (now); it's up to me to situate myself. Now, I see the bigger picture and it feels comfortable."
With a new perspective and aggressive attitude, Lazcano will take another step toward a second world title shot Friday when he meets former title challenger Ben Tackie in a scheduled 10-rounder at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.
The fight, which will be fought at junior welterweight, will be televised by Telefutura network. And for the Bowie High School alum, it's a refreshing return to familiarity.
Lazcano (35-3-1, 27 knockouts) is back with renowned trainer Freddie Roach after a brief split. That split, however, happened to come smack in the middle of the most important time of Lazcano's pro life -- the title shot against Castillo.
After a two-year rest, the "Hispanic Causing Panic" reunited with Roach and returned to the ring last August with a first-round knockout of Marco Angel Perez. Then, in November, he notched a ninth-round knockout of tough Courtney Burton.
The return of Roach to his corner means everything to the success of his comeback.
"Freddie's a great trainer and a great person, and I'm just glad to be back with him and on good terms," Lazcano said. "I was without him for one fight, and that was the Castillo fight. I could feel it. But sometimes we have to go through certain things. It's OK. I take the experience, and I like to think that I'm better for it."
Lazcano also has mended fences with promoter Oscar De La Hoya, whom he had a spat with last year because of De La Hoya's alleged lack of attention to his career.
"It's a good thing that we can come together," Lazcano said. "Communication is about building bridges, not walls. A lot of times we suppose things. All that does is make it more complicated. I feel very good about my promoter, and I hope they feel the same about me. Everything is running smooth, and it does give me peace of mind."
De La Hoya said: "We want the best for the guy. I've never been against him. Everything is fine and dandy."
Since Lazcano's fight against Castillo, the lightweight and junior welterweight classes have become packed with talent. England's Ricky Hatton is the undisputed junior welterweight champ, and Puerto Rico's Miguel Cotto has emerged as a force. At lightweight, Philadelphian Zahir Raheem upset all-time great Erik Morales, and the legendary Marco Antonio Barrera now is competing in the class.
Add Floyd Mayweather to the mix, and Lazcano thinks there's no better weight vicinity in the sport.
"I think it's the most exciting weight class in boxing right now," he said. "It really is packed with action fighters. It's great. I'm just here to make those great fights happen. I'm here to add some flare."
De La Hoya said: "After this fight (with Tackie), he's ready for anybody. If it's Ricky Hatton, Cotto, he's ready. Those are the fights we are going to go after. It's nothing but big fights for him."
Lazcano, though, knows he has a tough assignment in Tackie, 27-5-1 (16 KOs), who has fought Hatton and former champ Kostya Tszyu.
"Ben Tackie has been around, but he's not an old man," Lazcano said.
"He's just like an African fighter, and they're warriors and always come in great shape and are durable fighters. I'm starting 2006 with an important fight, and we feel very good as far as what our position is."
And if he wins and looks impressive, who knows? He may end up back in the ring with Castillo and get a chance at redemption.
"Why not a rematch with Castillo?" De La Hoya said. "Here you have Castillo blowing everyone away, doing this and that. He had a great fight with Lazcano. Lazcano deserves another opportunity."
Matthew Aguilar may be reached at
maguilar@elpasotimes.com; 546-6166.
