Thursday November 26, 2015– Neither a rainstorm nor Jan Zaveck could deter Erislandy Lara as the Cuban-born southpaw convincingly defended his 154-pound world title for the third time with a third-round technical knockout in South Florida.

Following a rain delay, Erislandy Lara gained a third-round TKO of Jan Zaveck in an outdoor ring at Hialeah Park Racing & Casino in Hialeah, Florida. (Lucas Noonan/Premier Boxing Champions)

Lara (22-2-2, 13 KOs) was uncharacteristically aggressive as he dominated his 39-year-old rival from the opening bell, not wasting any time following a rain delay at Hialeah Park Racing & Casino’s outdoor arena in Hialeah, Florida.

After having an easy time of it in the first two rounds, Lara hammered away at Zaveck (35-4, 19 KOs) in a corner of the ring in the third, highlighted by a head-popping straight left that split the guard of the former 147-pound champion.

Early in the third, Zaveck turned toward referee Telis Assimenios and simultaneously gestured with his outstretched right hand toward Lara, who nailed his Slovenian opponent with a couple of punches to the head before Assimenios stepped in to protect Zaveck and waved an end to the fight at the 41-second mark.

Zaveck said afterward that he experienced a muscle spasm in his right shoulder that he believes was caused by a punch to the right side of his neck in the final round.

The technical knockout was Lara’s third straight win since losing a split decision to Saul “Canelo” Alvarez in July 2014. It was his first stoppage since he rose from a pair of knockdowns to gain a 10th-round TKO of Alfredo Angulo in June 2013.