LEIGH WOOD has reclaimed the WBA featherweight title after a mouthwatering rematch with Mauricio Lara.The Englishman overcame the Mexican by unanimous decision in Manchester after an excellent showing.
He floored Lara in round two with a right uppercut and never looked back, bossing the bout throughout.
Result: Leigh Wood def. Mauricio Lara
TV Channel: DAZN (Channel 429 on Sky for subscribers)
Live stream: DAZN
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Lara vs Wood
Leigh Wood regains the WBA featherweight world title with a unanimous points victory over Mauricio Lara.
He floored the Mexican in round two with a right uppercut and never looked back, bossing the bout throughout.
Maybe Lara’s brutal weight cut played a part, but credit is due for Wood, who boxed to an excellent game plan.
Credit: Getty
Lara vs Wood
Heading into the final three minutes and Wood is a round away from redemption.
He’s boxed smartly throughout the 12 rounds but Lara has really underperformed.
All Wood has to do is close out the round and the show.
Credit: PA
Lara vs Wood
Lara is really struggling to mount as sort of momentum into round nine.
The champion looks out of gas and ideas, with Wood bossing it with a good jab and footwork.
Lara has to show some urgency or Wood is going to run away with it and regain his title.
Credit: PA
Lara vs Wood
Through the half way stage and it’s going the way of Wood.
He’s boxing well at range, keeping Lara off with a spiring jab, feints and some nice combinations.
Lara looks lethargic, potentially a consequence of his brutal weight cut. But, he’s still powerful and dangerous.
Credit: PA
Lara vs Wood
Wood looks the sharper of the two, letting off quick combinations and showing great footwork.
But Lara is patiently waiting for his moment to unload, sitting down on his punches.
The Mexican is always dangerous an Wood cannot switch off for a second.
Credit: Reuters
Lara vs Wood
DOWN GOES LARA!
Uppercut has dropped the Mexican champion in round two after a great start from Wood.
Massive moment for the challenger, who’s confidence will be sky high now.
Lara vs Wood
Here we go!
The rematch just three months after their thriller in Nottingham.
Will it be repeat or revenge in Manchester?
Lara vs Wood
Both men are in the ring and we’re moments away from the first bell.
Will it be repeat or revenge in Manchester?
How much will the additional weight Lara carried in from the weigh in come into play during the bout?
Credit: PA
Leigh way
Leigh Wood’s rematch with Mauricio Lara is coming up next.
Lara brutally knocked out Wood in February with a left hook to win the WBA featherweight title.
But he lost the strap on the scale and came in over the 126lb limit, meaning only Wood can win it tonight.
Credit: Reuters
Catterall vs Foley
Catterall takes a decision victory and he will march on to a title shot.
WBC champion Regis Prograis has just signed to Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom stable.
And Catterall is now highly ranked for the WBA belt, held by American Rolando Romero.
Credit: Reuters
Catterall vs Foley
Catterall is finishing big, scoring a knockdown in round nine after a big left hand.
He looked to have Foley hurt and closed in for the finish but the Irishman did well to fight back and survive.
We head into the final round now.
Credit: PA
Catterall vs Foley
Very strong start from Catterall through four rounds.
He’s bossing it through his jab, but also the one-two combination has proven a winner.
Foley looks slightly frustrated with Catterall in control of the bout, using his jab effectively.
Jack in the box
Jack Catterall makes his long anticipated return next.
Catterall has not boxed since February 2022 when he lost a controversial decision to rival Josh Taylor.
The pair were due to rematch before Taylor suffered an injury, causing them to go separate ways.
Credit: Kenny Ramsay
Harper wins
Terri Harper takes a points win over Ivana Habazin.
Harper outworked her opponent – which was only arranged on a week’s notice – over ten rounds.
Harper has called out Natasha Jonas for an undisputed super-welterweight showdown.
Credit: PA
Terr we go
Terri Harper is nine rounds into her title defence and on course to retain her WBA title.
Following this will be Jack Catterall’s Matchroom debut against Irishman Darragh Foley.
Catterall has not fought since his controversial decision loss to Josh Taylor in February 2022.
Credit: PA
Proper Terr up
Terri Harper returns to defend her WBA super-welterweight title in a short-notice matchup against Ivana Habazin.
Harper was due to face women’s boxing legend Cecilia Braekhus last week on Katie Taylor’s undercard in Ireland.
But Braekhus was forced to pull out on the day due to illness, so Harper instead fights Habazin tonight on seven days notice.
Credit: PA
Aq a boy
Aqib Fiaz has boxed his way to a points win but he had to get up from the deck to do so.
Fiaz was in cruise control until round six when he was heavily floored in round six with a left hook.
But he managed to regain his composure to see the bout out and win a unanimous decision.
Credit: Getty
Ty faker
Tyson Fury has NOT sent Anthony Joshua a contract for a September fight.
The 34-year-old WBC Gypsy King has been in Australia promising a couple of fights with unknowns Down Under.
And he has now claimed he has sent 33-year-old AJ an offer for the overdue fight that fell through most recently when targeted for December 3.
AJ promoter Eddie Hearn has the O2 booked for August 12 and is working on a December clash with Deontay Wilder in Saudi and – while he has spoken to Fury matchmaker George Warren – Fury has not made a firm offer.
Hearn said: “I don’t want to ruffle anyone’s feathers but I don’t want someone making Anthony Joshua look bad for no reason.”
Credit: EPA
Fiazy does it
Unbeaten Aqib Fiaz returns against Costin Ion.
Fiaz is 10-0, with only one KO and looks to improve his unbeaten run at super-featherweight.
Credit: PA
Ball over!
Danny Ball stops Jamie Robinson in three rounds.
Robinson was pulled out by his corner and Ball takes home the English welterweight title.
Credit: PA
Leigh way
Leigh Wood is the only man fighting for his old WBA featherweight crown after bloated Mauricio Lara was stripped ahead of their Saturday fight.
In February the violent Mexican stopped the 34-year-old Nottingham ace and snatched away his 126lbs world title.
The Manchester rematch was arranged but Lara – who refuelled for the original clash with a giant pizza and bottle of Coke on the Friday weigh-in stage – failed his midweek weight check.
The British Boxing Board of Control were concerned and warned Lara that he was forbidden from dehydrating himself down to less than 128.6lbs on Friday.
But, after Wood obeyed the rules and weighed in at 125.9lbs, Lara bowled in at 129.8lbs.
The BBBoC were fuming but the title decision fell to the sanctioning body who thankfully took action on Friday afternoon and stripped the champion.
Credit: Reuters
Fight night
Mauricio Lara faces Leigh Wood in a rematch following their February thriller.
Lara scored a seventh-round TKO in Nottingham with coach Ben Davison left to throw in the towel following a massive left hook.
The Mexican was due to defend his featherweight title but the British Board of Boxing Control would not allow him to weigh in less than 128lb.
So Lara was forced to vacate his 126lb featherweight title, but the belt is still up for grabs for Wood.
Credit: Reuters
Aq will do
Aqib Fiaz returns looking to extend his 11-0 record.
He faces 10-3-2 Romanian Costin Ion in Manchester.
Credit: PA
Aq will do
Aqib Fiaz returns looking to extend his 11-0 record.
He faces 10-3-2 Romanian Costin Ion in Manchester.
Credit: PA
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