NEW YORK — The spring in the legs were gone. So was the head movement. So was the feinting and constant swirling that made Erislandy Lara hard to hit.
Maybe it was the 11-month layoff. Maybe it was just the fact that Jarrett Hurd beat the bounce out of his legs, and head, and his defensive swirls.
Whatever it was, Erislandy Lara didn’t look like Erislandy Lara.
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And young, vibrant Argentinian Brian Castaño was the benefactor.
Fighting before an announced crowd of 7,329 at Barclays Center on Showtime Championship Boxing Saturday night, Lara and Castano finished in a split-draw, which hardly anyone ringside seemed to have a problem with, after judge Kevin Morgan ruled for Castaño, 115-113, judge John McKaie had it 115-113 for Lara, and judge Julie Lederman had it 114-114.
Naturally, both fighters thought they had won.
“It was a great fight, but I saw myself winning eight rounds tonight,” Lara said. “My punches were much more effective. He did have pressure but I was dominating the pressure. I was definitely expecting that pressure because he waited a long time for this fight.
“Again, I demonstrated I’m not old. I’m still fine-tuned.
“If we have to fight him again, I’ll fight him. Hurd or Castaño. Anybody, I’ll have the rematch with both.”
