At first glance, monikers and nicknames may seem just a necessity for a boxer, but in reality, they are much more. It represents what they stand for and how they want the world to perceive them. For Erislandy Lara, that nickname is ‘The American Dream,’ which doesn’t just act as his moniker but also represents the perilous journey he made to come to America.

The 41-year-old is about to enter the ring against Danny ‘Swift’ Garcia on September 14th at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Lara will defend his WBA middleweight title while fighting in the undercard of Canelo Alvarez vs. Edgar Berlanga. However, before the night of action begins, here’s everything you need to know about the story behind Lara’s nickname.

What does Erislandy Lara’s nickname mean?

Erislandy Lara’s nickname, ‘The American Dream,’ is an encapsulation of the extraordinary journey and resilience that defines his life. The man was born in the poverty-stricken city of Guantanamo, Cuba, which resulted in his early years being filled with insurmountable hardships and strife. While he still managed to climb the ranks in the nation’s amateur boxing scene, something was missing—freedom and opportunity. 

Lara had made up his mind about getting a better life for himself, and the only way he could achieve it was through leaving his country behind. In 2008, after a harrowing escape through the shark-infested waters of the Yucatan Channel, Lara made it to Mexico and was later transported to Hamburg, Germany, where he would start his boxing career.

Following some success in the sport, he would move to the US, where he rebuilt his career. Lara would get married to Yudi Lara, and have three children together, and in 2017, the couple would also get their US citizenship after clearing eligibility requirements and taking an oath of allegiance.

Lara’s nickname reflects his transformation and his journey, which led him to the States in pursuit of a better life. However, it also represents the broader aspiration that immigrants from across the world share when they come to America, seeking a better life. For Lara, ‘The American Dream’ is about more than just achieving success in the ring—it’s about the opportunity to live freely, to support his family, and to carve out a better future that was unimaginable in his homeland.

More about Erislandy Lara’s defection from Cuba

Erislandy Lara’s defection from Cuba is a gripping tale of courage and determination, which saw the boxer put his life on the line to escape the country at any cost. Growing up in Guantánamo, Cuba, Lara never really knew his father while his mother, Marisol, was always recovering from last night’s drunken haze. His grandmother raised him and his sister, all while working as a full-time short-order cook. 

When Lara turned 11 his grandmother, Silva, passed away, a huge setback in his personal life, which motivated him to get a better life for himself. He would take the necessary steps to achieve that nine years later in 2007. After becoming the captain of the Cuban national team, Lara, along with fellow boxer Guillermo Rigondeaux, attempted their first escape from the grips of his country’s regime during the Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

However, this would prove to be an unsuccessful endeavor, as Cuban Authorities would capture the duo and return them to Cuba not that long after. This was a turning point for Lara. Not only was he captured and returned to the country, but now he was banned from ever participating in the sport of boxing and, of course, labeled a deserter.

But, he did not lose hope and his determination to seek a better life remained in him. The very next year in 2008, he took a much more dangerous step to escaping the country. He decided to embark on a journey to through the shark-infested waters of the Yucatan Channel, leaving behind his mother and two sons.

The boat took Lara to Mexico, and he was later transported to Hamburg, Germany, where he joined former Olympic champions Odlanier Solis, Yan Bartelemí, and Yuriorkis Gamboa in the Arena Box-Promotion stable. In 2008, Lara came to America and settled in Houston, Texas, where he still is to this day. 

That said, not a lot of boxers get to live up to their monikers and nicknames, but Erislandy Lara is clearly not one of those people. Even at 41, the Cuban native is ready to get in the ring as the oldest world champion and show the determination and resilience he is known for. What do you think about the meaning behind his nickname?