On 20 April 2012, Lara made his comeback to the ring after nine months to fight Ronald Hearns for the WBC super welterweight semi-final eliminator spot at the Beau Rivage casino resort in Biloxi, Mississippi. The fight, which was scheduled to go ten rounds, simply lasted one minute and 34 seconds as Lara delivered an impressive TKO in the first round. Referee Keith Hughes decided to stop the fight after Lara had sent Hearns to the canvas with a clean left hook, following the eight-count by the referee, Lara immediately delivered two fast combinations (one of which also required a count) that seemed to be enough to overwhelm Hearns, who seconds before the stoppage appeared to be defenseless upon Lara's final combination.