Leigh Wood vs Mauricio Lara LIVE: Stream, latest updates and result tonight
Re-live all the action as Wood lost the WBA featherweight title to Lara in controversial fashion
Leigh Wood suffered a controversial TKO loss in his hometown clash with Mauricio Lara on Saturday, as the towel came in after a knockdown in the seventh round.
Wood appeared to be leading five rounds to one as the main event crossed its midway point in Nottingham, but Lara produced a brutal left hook almost out of nowhere to floor the WBA featherweight champion late in Round 7. Wood beat the referee’s count, but the 34-year-old’s coach Ben Davison threw in the towel with approximately 10 seconds left in the frame.
Wood was quick to protest his trainer’s decision, while Mexican Lara celebrated his title win across the ring. When asked by DAZN whether he was okay to continue, Wood said: “Yeah, I’m a fighter, you know? I want to go until I can’t see anything anymore. [But with the knockdown], I made a mistake and I paid for it.”
The main event marked Wood’s first bout since his fight-of-the-year contender with Michael Conlan at the same arena in March 2022. That night, Wood recovered from a heavy knockdown at the bell in the first round, going on to knock out Conlan in the final frame.
Re-live updates from Wood vs Lara and the entire undercard in Nottingham.
Wood vs Lara LIVE
Round 3
Wood backs up Lara, who is content to bide his time for now. Wood, 34, is just standing in front of the Mexican, not throwing much at all.
Wood darts in and out with a jab, while Lara is unable to counter with an uppercut.
Solid jab work from Wood in the centre of the ring now. He grazes Lara with a left hook. The challenger opts for hooks to the body.
A big right cross is on point for Wood! And another! Now he jabs to the body. Good head movement from the champion.
A great response by Wood after a tough second round.
Wood vs Lara LIVE
Round 2
Wood sustained a cut around his left eye in that first round, due to a clash of heads.
Lara accuses Wood of hitting him on the back of the head now.
Wood gets after his challenger in the corner, to the delight of the Nottingham faithful.
Lara eats a brutal left hook like it’s nothing! Now Lara lands one of his own while closing distance.
More hooks from each man. Lara mixes it up, targeting the body with some spiteful punches.
A left and right get through up top for Lara, and Wood stumbles slightly! The bell helps him out! Blood is smeared all around Wood’s face!
Wood vs Lara LIVE
Round 1
The crowd is singing loudly already to soundtrack this one. Both fighters get behind their jabs early, until Wood grabs ahold of Lara.
They separate and Wood holds the centre of the ring. Lara springs off to his left.
The Mexican winds up with an uppercut from range but misses. A hook then misses for the challenger, too.
Wood, meanwhile, is on point with two left hooks! More grappling ensues.
A short uppercut from Lara gets through in close. Now he fires off short, straight shots, before digging into the body.
Wood vs Lara LIVE
Here we go! Twelve rounds for Wood’s WBA featherweight title!
Wood vs Lara LIVE
Now here comes the hometown hero, Nottingham’s own Wood (26-2, 16 KOs).
Wood vs Lara LIVE
Lara is out first, sporting a red sombrero.
The Mexican, 24, enters hostile territory here with a professional record of 25-2-1 (18 knockouts).
Wood vs Lara LIVE
One fight to go. It’s main-event time. Wood vs Lara for the WBA featherweight title.
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