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: Main-event ring walks
In their first meeting, Lara beat Wood late in Round 7, as the latter’s coach Ben Davison threw in the towel – despite his fighter beating the referee’s counter after a knockdown.
Some suggested that Davison acted prematurely. Here’s what Steve Bunce had to say:
Controversial Leigh Wood stoppage was the right call
Home favourite Wood was caught flush with a Mauricio Lara left hook in Nottingham and relinquished his featherweight world title when the towel was thrown in
Leigh Wood vs Mauricio Lara 2 LIVE: Main-event ring walks
A reminder that Lara was stripped of the WBA featherweight title, which he won from Wood in February, yesterday after failing to make weight.
Furthermore, only Wood is eligible to win the now-vacant belt in this bout.
Leigh Wood vs Mauricio Lara 2 LIVE: Main-event ring walks
The ring walks for the main event are due very shortly!
Leigh Wood vs Mauricio Lara 2 LIVE: Jack Catterall vs Darragh Foley
Jack Catterall def. Darragh Foley via unanimous decision (99-88, 98-89, 97-90).
Catterall collects the WBA Intercontinental super-lightweight title!
Leigh Wood vs Mauricio Lara 2 LIVE: Jack Catterall vs Darragh Foley
Round 10
The fighters embrace each other to begin this final round.
However, it’s not long until Foley complains yet again of a low blow. In defence of Catterall, Foley was almost off the ground as he closed distance and the shot landed.
Foley is looking for Catterall, who is content to get to the scorecards at this point.
Foley finds his opponent, though, and a messy end to the fight ensues! That was a fun one.
Leigh Wood vs Mauricio Lara 2 LIVE: Jack Catterall vs Darragh Foley
Round 9
Penultimate round. Foley steps in with a good lead right hook.
But Catterall fires back with a brutal hook of his own, and down goes Foley!!
He beats the referee’s count, but Catterall senses a finish! He applies pressure in the corner...
The men grapple, and Catterall nearly falls through the ropes!
Foley is complaining of low blows; Catterall is certainly landing close to the belt line.
Foley has done very well to make it to the end of the round after that knockdown.
Leigh Wood vs Mauricio Lara 2 LIVE: Jack Catterall vs Darragh Foley
Round 8
Foley with a jousting jab. Now another gets through. He backs up Catterall, who circles into space.
Now Catterall gets back behind his jab. Forward comes Foley again, but he just misses with an overhand.
Leigh Wood vs Mauricio Lara 2 LIVE: Jack Catterall vs Darragh Foley
Round 7
Catterall drops Foley to a knee, then Catterall tags him again!
Foley beats the referee’s count, and Catterall is going to be docked a point here.
Foley is okay to continue, and both fighters are landing with increasing frequency here.
Catterall targets the body, then the head. A very entertaining end to the round.
Leigh Wood vs Mauricio Lara 2 LIVE: Jack Catterall vs Darragh Foley
Round 6
Foley gets through with a left cross. Catterall with hooks to the body.
He tries for another but lands a little too low. We’ll have a brief break in the action while Foley recovers.
Leigh Wood vs Mauricio Lara 2 LIVE: Jack Catterall vs Darragh Foley
Round 5
Foley is looking desperate already. Maybe it’s just frustration.
Catterall picks his moment with a lovely uppercut. There’s a brief pause in the action, as Catterall needs his corner to re-tie his shoelace.
Back under way. The trend of the fight continues.
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