By Ryan Burton

Junior middleweight contender Erislandy Lara (17-1-2, 11KOs) was frustrated with last night's technical decision draw against Vanes Martirosyan. The fight was stopped by the ringside doctor after a deep gash was opened up above Martirosyan's left eye after both fighter's heads collided early in the 9th round. Lara said that the clash of heads was accidental.  

"It was an accidental headbutt. We both went in to punch at the same time. It happens all the time when you have a righty and a southpaw fighting," Lara explained.

Lara started out slow but dominated the 7th and 8th round as he got into a groove. The Cuban explained his slow start by saying that he planned on slowly breaking Martirosyan down and dominating the late rounds.

"It was part of the tactic to establish the jab first and the feint and then take him into deep waters and drown him and that is exactly what I was doing. I was starting to push him back," Lara told BoxingScene.com.

The WBC may order a rematch since this fight was an eliminator to determine Canelo Alvarez's mandatory opponent. Lara said that he had no problem with a rematch.

"I'm ready for a rematch right now. We can fight tomorrow, Monday or whenever. Whenever they make the fight I will be ready to go," Lara stated.

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