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
Yafai vs Ruiz – Round 4
Yafai comes out swinging, trying to turn this into a brawl! Ruiz gets lured in briefly but then gets back behind his jab.
He then tags Yafai with a harsh hook. Yafai’s head movement is already lacking. He eats a straight one-two.
Ruiz targets the body with a hook then swings an uppercut onto the chin of Yafai.
Yafai seems to stagger Ruiz momentarily in his best moment so far.
Wood vs Lara LIVE
Yafai vs Ruiz – Round 3
Ruiz is firmly in control, switching stances and flitting around his opponent. He looks very relaxed and composed, while Yafai springs himself off balance with a hook attempt from range.
Yafai is loading up on his punches, and he eats a short shot from Ruiz, which sees Yafai drop to a knee...
It’s all going wrong for him, but he survives the round...
Wood vs Lara LIVE
Yafai vs Ruiz – Round 2
Slick right straight lands for Ruiz, piercing the guard of Yafai!
Now the super-bantamweights trade clean right hooks to the head, in close.
Ruiz scores a flash knockdown with a right hand and, after Yafai stands, goes in for the finish! He’s rocking Yafai with hooks here.
Yafai does well to kpe his head moving and even fire back, but he’s a bit out of sorts still...
Wood vs Lara LIVE
Yafai vs Ruiz – Round 1
The fighters trade jabs early, before Ruiz tags on a left hook and Yafai wings a right hook to the body.
More left hooks to the head from Ruiz, but Yafai does a decent job of getting his guard up to block them.
It’s Yafai who’s pressing forward now. He digs a series of hooks into the body of Ruiz, who fires back with a sharp right cross upstairs.
Now Ruiz goes southpaw briefly as the first round nears its conclusion.
Wood vs Lara LIVE
Up first: Gamal Yafai vs Diego Alberto Ruiz at super-bantamweight.
Wood vs Lara LIVE
“Tonight, Leigh Wood defends against Mauricio Lara in one of those rare fights where there is a guarantee of excitement – not just the expectation.
“It is also a fight that demands both boxers take ridiculous risks to leave the ring as the winner.
“It might last less than a round, but it will still be a classic.”
There’s still time to read Steve Bunce’s preview of this evening’s main event:
Leigh Wood and Mauricio Lara must take ridiculous risks in X-rated clash
Wood defends the WBA featherweight title in one of those rare fights where there is a guarantee of excitement – not just the expectation
Wood vs Lara LIVE
As the main card begins, let’s take a look at a couple of the finishes from the prelims...
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