Cuban Boxer Erislandy Lara Can't Fight Here, Says Arizona; State Law Said to Dry Up Pool of Foreign Boxers

An amateur Cuban boxer was stopped from appearing in an ESPN-televised fight in Arizona tonight because of problems obtaining a work visa. Erislandy Lara was scheduled to fight at the Desert Diamond Casino in southern Arizona, but found out Wednesday his paperwork wouldn't be completed in time for him to...

By Ray Stern

June 26, 2009

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An amateur Cuban boxer was stopped from appearing in an ESPN-televised fight in Arizona tonight because of problems obtaining a work visa. Erislandy Lara was scheduled to fight at the Desert Diamond Casino in southern Arizona, but found out Wednesday his paperwork wouldn't be completed in time for him to compete.

Arizona's reportedly the only state in the country making it hard for foreign boxers to work here, due to a law passed 18 months ago. CBS News interviewed John Montano of the Arizona State Boxing Commission, who told them Lara was actually one of 10 or 15 boxers who had been stymied by the unique state law.

Lara was apparently somewhat anticipated at this fight, meaning Arizona's diss won't go unnoticed. A handful of people with boxing talent getting the boot, including champs like Lara -- it looks like another black eye for the state.

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Ray Stern is the former news editor of Phoenix New Times. He worked as a newspaper reporter in Arizona for more than two decades. He's won numerous awards for his reporting, including the Arizona Press Club's Don Bolles Award for Investigative Journalism.