Erislandy Lara vs Ishe Smith official for December 12 on Showtime

During tonight's Showtime boxing "special edition," it was announced that Erislandy Lara would defend his WBA "world" (aka "regular") junior middleweight title on Friday, December 12, facing Ishe Smith on Showtime from San Antonio, Texas.

Lara (19-2-2, 12 KO) last fought on July 12, losing a split decision to Canelo Alvarez in Las Vegas on Showtime pay-per-view. The Cuban, who now resides in Houston, is a crafty southpaw, and that doesn't bode well for entertainment against Smith (26-6, 12 KO), himself a "crafty" fighter who doesn't bring serious action and isn't a puncher.

As far as being a couple of the better fighters in the division, Lara-Smith is a fine fight. 154 isn't particularly stocked with names -- Alvarez, of course, and then there's Miguel Cotto, who's fighting at 160, sorta, and Floyd Mayweather, a welterweight who holds two of the division's belts -- and this is as legitimate a fight as can be made right now. Where it will receive backlash is there's really going to be no expectation that this will be an exciting fight, but then, who would you match either of these guys with to get "action"?

At any rate, it's another show, and that's fine.

Smith, 36, has fought once since losing the IBF junior middleweight title to Carlos Molina in December 2013. Smith knocked out Ryan Davis in two rounds on May 2, the date he was originally supposed to face Lara before Lara landed the bout with Alvarez.