A major part of a boxer’s success hides in the countless hours they spend in the gym, surrounded and trained by the right people. For Erislandy Lara, that person seems to be the legendary Cuban trainer Ismael Salas. Why is this important? At 41 years old, the WBA middleweight champion is about to step into the squared circle against a formidable foe.

Lara will defend his title against two-division world champion Danny Garcia on the undercard of Canelo Alvarez vs. Edgar Berlanga on September 14 at T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas. While he is on a five-fight win streak, to guarantee a win against Garcia, Lara has once again joined forces with Salas. So, before the night full of glitz and glamor takes over your mind, here’s all you need to know about Salas. 

Meet Ismael Salas, Erislandy Lara’s trainer

Ismael Salas is, without a doubt, the man behind Erislandy Lara’s resurgence in the sport of boxing. The veteran Cuban trainer, renowned for his illustrious career, including being named the 1996 WBA Trainer of the Year and serving as the head coach of the Thailand National Amateur Team, has mentored and shaped the careers of world champions such as Guillermo Rigondeaux, Yuriorkis Gamboa, and Kazuto Ioka.

What makes him the best fit for Lara is his strategic brilliance and deep understanding of the sweet science. However, their bond is much deeper, as Salas was Lara’s original trainer. After a series of tough fights under the guidance of longtime trainer Ronnie Shields, including a split-decision loss to Jarrett Hurd and a draw against Brian Castano, Lara sought out the man who had guided him towards the right path in the bigging. 

However, Salas does more than just train elite-level athletes—he also dedicates himself to nurturing young talent at his own Salas Boxing Academy in Las Vegas. The gym is more than a training facility for Salas—it’s a community hub, where discipline, resilience, and camaraderie are instilled in aspiring boxers. Interestingly, Ismael Salas remains a central figure in the boxing realm with a career spanning four decades and continents, as he continues to steer both seasoned fighters and young talent towards greatness. 

Where does Erislandy Lara train?

The WBA middleweight champion, more popularly known as ‘The American Dream’ trains at the Salas Boxing Academy in Las Vegas, Nevada alongside his legendary trainer Ismael Salas, as he prepares for the second fight of 2024 against Danny Garcia. Joining forces with Salas once again in 2019 has brought back positive memories for the 41-year-old, who can’t help but feel revitalized and ready to dominate in the ring.

According to a 2019 report from PBC, Lara said, “Everything is going great out here in Las Vegas as I wrap up camp for my title fight.” He added, “The sparring partners really pushed me to my limits, and I know mentally that I’m fully prepared for this fight.” Hopefully, this will still be the case as he takes on Garcia on the Mexican Independence Day weekend.

Lara was especially impressed by the strategic work he’s done with Salas, who has been a tremendous help in sharpening Lara’s skills and refining his fundamentals. “We are working on a lot of fundamentals with a few twists,” Lara explained. “Salas and I have sharpened up all my tools, and I’m taking this fight very seriously. We have a great game plan in place.” If Lara is right about working with Salas again, his training in Las Vegas will play a pivotal role in securing a victory against Garcia—as he tries to prove even at 41, he is a force to be reckoned with. 

More about the accomplished boxing trainer Ismael Salas

To truly appreciate Salas’ ability to mold fighters into world-class champions, one only needs to glance at his decorated resume. Having started his career in the Guantanamo province of Cuba, he went on to become the head coach of the Cuban national team in 1983. He then left the island nation after six years to teach boxing in countries like Pakistan, North Korea, and Thailand.

It was this sort of work from the trainer that earned him the WBA ‘Trainer of the Year’ award in 1996, after producing several world champions. Come 2008, Salas decided to settle down and the place of choice for him was the United States, as he started working with the likes of Jorge Linares, Guillermo Rigondeaux, Yuriorkis Gamboa, and Nonito Donaire. 

He has even trained the likes of Olympic gold medalist Robeisy Ramírez and highly touted Puerto Rican Felix Verdejo, out of his Salas Boxing Academy in Las Vegas. Apart from all the achievements, Salas is known for his dedication to his fighters, often forming close bonds with them and taking a hands-on approach to their development both inside and outside the ring. 

That said, Erislandy Lara is clearly under the right mentorship for his upcoming fight against Danny Garcia. However, whether this trainer-boxer duo would be able to beat Garcia and his father’s partnership is yet to be seen. Until then, share your thoughts on Lara’s trainer.