Koast Kombat

Jared Lara: Putting in the Work
Report and Photo By Breanna Armstrong
March 3, 2011

Jared Lara in read gear and Giva Santana in yellow gear training at Team Oyama

Tonight I had the chance to catch up with the current WBC National Super Middleweight Champion, Jared Lara, who is training for his upcoming MMA fight at Team Oyama in Irvine, Calif. Lara is set to fight at Respect in the Cage next week and after witnessing his rigorous training session with Giva Santana and Colin Oyama, Lara is in top shape for his fight in the cage.

Lara has been out of our radar since he won his WBC title in July 2009, I was at that WCK World Muay Thai Championship fight and was able to witness greatness on Lara’s end as he earned his title. But what has he been up to since? Is he planning on vacating his title? And what are his responses to Joe Schilling’s interview with Muay Thai Authority? This is all about to be answered.

Armstrong: What have you been up to since you won the WBC title?

Lara: “I have been working for the US Forest Service, so I have been a little tied up with that. But I have not stopped training. I was supposed to fight at the Pala Casino in October, but I broke my hand when I was sparring with a student. So I am just waiting to get another Muay Thai fight. I’m actually training for a MMA fight right now.”

Armstrong: Joe Schilling claims that you two were supposed to fight against each other for the title in 2009, but he said that you told Dennis Warner (President of the WCK) that you couldn’t fight Joe because you two were friends. Is that correct?

Lara: “No, I never said any of that.”

Armstrong: What do you have to say about Joe’s statement that you won’t fight him because you don’t want to?

Lara: “Give me the proper time to train, I’ll fight him, I’ll fight anyone. The whole fact that I have been dodging him for five years is bullshit, I have only had the title for 1 and half years, it will be two years in July. I’m not afraid of him or anyone. If Joe wants to get all huffed over this then that’s his deal.”

When asked if Lara was planning on vacating his WBC title he said that he was absolutely not going to vacate the Super Middleweight title.

To prepare for his MMA fight Jared said: “I’m doing my two a days with Team Oyama and as you could see, been putting in the work.”

Lara is fighting on March 12, at Respect in the Cage in Pomona, Calif. Even with his busy schedule as a firefighter, he still managed to keep training and it showed tonight in the ring at Team Oyama’s Gym, when he truly was “putting in the work.”

“I let my fighting do the talking, I don’t have to talk into the cameras,” Lara concluded.

After taking time to pursue his career and taking time to heal from his injury, Jared Lara is ready to get back into the ring.

To view Muay Thai Authority’s interview with Joe Schilling CLICK HERE