Leigh Wood vs Mauricio Lara LIVE: Result as Briton regains title with points win
Re-live updates as Wood fought to regain the WBA featherweight title, which Lara won from him in February but lost on Friday after missing weight
Leigh Wood regained the WBA featherweight title with a decision win over Mauricio Lara on Saturday, avenging a knockout loss to the Mexican in the process.
Wood was fighting in his hometown of Nottingham in February when he suffered a controversial TKO defeat by Lara, who took the WBA belt from the 34-year-old in Round 7.
However, Lara, 25, was stripped of the title on Friday (26 May), after failing to make weight for his Manchester rematch with Wood. Furthermore, only Wood was eligible to win the vacant title in the main-event bout.
And Wood did just that, knocking down Lara in Round 2 and going on to beat the Mexican via unanimous decision. Elsewhere, Chris Billam-Smith won his first world title, and Michael Conlan suffered a brutal KO loss – more on those results below.
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Leigh Wood vs Mauricio Lara 2 LIVE
Round 4
This has been a good start for Wood, but Lara is dangerous from Round 1 to Round 12.
Wood backs up the Mexican here but refrains from throwing. He instead feints the jab.
Wood with a chopping right cross to a crouching Lara now.
The crowd boos another spell of inactivity, but this fight could be changed by a single punch – as the first clash was.
Wood is keeping Lara on the back foot, but the Mexican lands a right hook late in the round, bloodying the Briton around his eye.
Leigh Wood vs Mauricio Lara 2 LIVE
Round 3
Lara is warned for leading with his head.
The action resumes and he lands a solid left hook in the clinch. Now the fighters separate, and Wood lands a clean right cross!
Lara felt that, but he fires back with a powerful body shot...
Lara is lunging in with his jab and struggling for accuracy... Wood punishes him with a right hand! Lara comes back with hooks. This is a fun one.
Lara with a left hook up top, now two hooks to the body.
Leigh Wood vs Mauricio Lara 2 LIVE
Round 2
That was a largely uneventful first round, but Wood likely took it.
Wood skips from side to side. Lara staggers Wood with a left hook – the shot that dropped him in the first fight – but falls after a push...
The crowd got a little excited there, but it wasn’t a knockdown by Wood. Lara is back up, and he’s staggered somewhat by a jab.
Wood just misses with a left hook. He feints a level change. Now he tries a right uppercut and left hook; both seem to be blocked, but that will give the Mexican something to think about.
Lara closes range by stepping in with a couple of body hooks. A jab is on point for Lara, but then he’s put down by an uppercut!!!
He’s still got his wits about him as he beats the referee’s count, but that’s promising for Wood late in the round!
Leigh Wood vs Mauricio Lara 2 LIVE
Round 1
Both fighters stand orthodox. Wood gently presses forward, flicking out jabs. He was leading the first fight before the controversial TKO.
Lara looks even more patient. He finally lets go with a hook to the body, then acknowledges a decent combination from Wood.
Even though this fight is in Manchester, not Wood’s hometown of Nottingham like the first clash, the crowd sings: “Leigh Wood, he’s one of our own.”
Leigh Wood vs Mauricio Lara 2 LIVE: Main-event ring walks
Here we go! Main event under way!
Leigh Wood vs Mauricio Lara 2 LIVE: Main-event ring walks
Wood paces around the ring as he’s introduced.
Leigh Wood vs Mauricio Lara 2 LIVE: Main-event ring walks
The fighter introductions are under way.
Leigh Wood vs Mauricio Lara 2 LIVE: Main-event ring walks
Now here comes Lara, 25, who has a pro record of 26-2-1, including 19 wins via KO.
Leigh Wood vs Mauricio Lara 2 LIVE: Main-event ring walks
Wood, 34, is out first! The Briton’s loss to Lara in February was the third defeat of his professional career.
“Leigh-thal” has 26 pro wins, though, with 16 having come via knockout.
The Nottingham fighter emerges with a sombrero on his back...
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