Ronald Hearns shouldn't have been in there tonight, and that was proven true quickly by legitimate junior middleweight contender Erislandy Lara, who ended the fight in the first round with a quick attack and three knockdowns.
Lara (16-1-1, 11 KO) put Hearns down on a stiff left hand first, and from there he wasted no time messing around with an inferior fighter. Lara went at Hearns again, and the referee called a standing eight-count. Though Hearns (26-3, 20 KO) did not respond when asked if he wanted to continue, he did walk forward to do so, and was knocked out on another left hand against the ropes.
It was lousy matchmaking on paper and an exceptionally easy fight for Lara, since Hearns is a pro fighter almost entirely because his father is Tommy Hearns and he kind of looks like one, but it failed to even live up to modest expectations. Hearns was no match for Lara and doesn't belong in a ring with fighters like this, period. Fights like this one need to stop being made on premium networks, even if it is the "B" show.
Our live coverage of ShoBox continues with the Jermain Taylor vs Caleb Truax main event up next.