Lazcano Makes Another Homecoming

Lazcano Makes Another Homecoming
by Steve Kim
(Monday August 27, 2001) Photo: Tom Hogan

The last time we saw lightweight contender Juan Lazcano, he was pounding out an exciting 11th-round stoppage over veteran John John Molina on Cinco De Mayo in front of a hometown crowd in El Paso, Texas. That night he was the semi-main attraction to a comebacking Fernando Vargas, this Saturday night he is the full-fledged main event against rugged veteran Julio Alvarez, 24-7-1, with 18 KOs.

While this fight against Alvarez may not have the same high profile status as his bout with Molina, going back to El Paso will always present a certain amount of pressure with the attention that Lazcano receives.

"It's difficult for anyone " admitted Lazcano, nicknamed 'the Hispanic Causin' Panic'. "You're going back to your hometown and you hadn't been there in a long time. All the press wants to talk to you, people want to talk to you, this and that. You have to decide: do I want to be 'Mr. Popularity' or am I going to focus and handle my business? Because at the end, these people come to see you but I'm the one that has to go home and take care of my business. So I take care of Juan first."

Lazcano was born in El Paso and lived there until he was 18 when he embarked on his professional career. Lazcano's bout with Molina was his first in his hometown and he admits there was a bit of pressure.

"Naturally, there's always going to be some pressure when you're the co-main event," said Lazcano, who now makes Sacramento, California his home. "It doesn't matter where you are, but even more so when I'm going back to my hometown for a big fight. But I controlled it, I kept my cool and my composure. In the end, it's only me and him in that ring."

Lazcano, 27-2-1 (20), finally seems to have the proper momentum in his career, one that has been plagued by untimely stops and starts. Lazcano would begin his career in July of 1993 (a first-round stoppage of Chris Crespin) and embark on a eight-bout winning streak, which was snapped when he would lose a six-rounder to Jose Manjarrez in July of 1994. With the hand injury he suffered in that fight, he would not fight again until April of 1996.

Since that time he has victories over familiar names like Antonio Diaz (W 6), James Crayton (W 12), Julian Wheeler (W 10), Jesse James Leija (in a highly disputed 10 rounder) and Molina. Currently, he is on a 13-bout winning streak, with his last loss coming at the hands of Golden Johnson (a third-round stoppage in June of 1998).

Lazcano has been an active fighter the past few years, becoming a regular staple on television. Virtually all of his fights have been televised on either ESPN2, Showtime and HBO. Lazcano, believes that a busy fighter is a better fighter.

"I think when you're active, you're naturally going to be better," stated Lazcano. "You'll learn if you're open to constructive criticism and if you want to get better you have to stay consistent. Not only will you get better, you'll gain momentum. I really believe in that. This is what I do and I love it. I hate being absent."

His trainer believes that the Molina win has taken his fighter to a new level. "It was his first real impressive performance on national TV, so it was definitely a great stepping-stone for Juan at that time," said Freddie Roach, who has been guiding Lazcano the past few year. I think now he's onto bigger and better things."

Which to Roach means only one thing. Fighting for a major belt.

"He's definitely at the top of his game now," asserted Roach, considered one of the game's best trainers. "I mean we really need a title shot soon because he's ready. We want Paul Spadafora (IBF) or Jose Luis Castillo (WBC), they're going to have to stop ignoring Juan. He's ready for a title shot."

Interestingly enough, after his watershed victory over Molina, the WBC rewarded Lazcano by dropping him from number two to three in their lightweight rankings.

"I got dropped?" said a stunned Lazcano when learning of the latest WBC rankings. "Really? That's crazy man. It just goes to show you something, I don't really pay attention to the rankings because the people really know, they see the lightweights fighting and they see who's fighting who and what's what. I feel comfortable with what I've accomplished and that's the important thing. I think as an athlete that you know what you've accomplished."

While Alvarez is considered nothing more than a tune-up fight on the way to bigger and better things, he himself is accomplished in his own right. His record is dotted with familiar names from 130 to 135 pounds —and he has his share of notable wins.

What really stands out is his 10-round stoppage of the current WBC lightweight titlist Castillo back in October of 1998. Alvarez also has notched victories against Pito Cardona (KO 10), Aaron Zarate (W 10), Jesus Rodriguez (W 12), James Crayton (W 10) and is coming off a win against former title challenger Saul Duran (TW
7)
in his last bout this past January.

Some of his losses include a 12-round decision against Jesus Chavez, who will be facing WBC jr. lightweight king Floyd Mayweather in the upcoming months, and a second-round knockout loss at the hands of Stevie Johnston last year for the WBC's 135-pound crown.

While Alvarez is most likely on the other side of the hill, Lazcano knows that he does bring some credentials to the table.

"We know he's a tough fighter," conceded Lazcano. "He's been there, he's fought world champions, he's a good strong fighter. He's coming to come in there and I'm sure that since I'm the hometown guy that he'll try to take things to me."

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