Leigh Wood loses world title after stunning KO by Mauricio Lara in brutal fight

18 February 2023 , 23:37

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Leigh Wood loses world title after stunning KO by Mauricio Lara in brutal fight

Mauricio Lara produced a stunning stoppage display over Leigh Wood to become world champion.

Wood was defending his WBA world featherweight title in front of a sold-out crowd in his hometown Nottingham, with a bumper domestic clash against Josh Warrington on the horizon.

And it was Lara who found his way to the victory in the seventh round, sending his rival crushed to the canvas before Wood's team elected to throw the towel in. The Mexican produced another shock on domestic soil to be crowned world champion, and make his name resonate at featherweight once again.

Mauricio Lara stunned Leigh Wood to become world champion (Getty Images)

The opening stages began with Wood and Lara tentatively working out each other's style, with the Nottingham star landing the biggest punch, a neat left hook, in the stanza while roared on by a passionate home crowd. A cut opened up for Wood who received treatment in the corner as blood trickled down his face after just three minutes.

A big right hand wobbled Wood just seconds before the bell as he pressed towards the bell in the second period with blood splattered on the face of the champion. It was a better round for Wood in the third who established some control back after a tough second, but Lara came back with some big crunching shots again at the start of the fourth.

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During a brutal fifth round unfolded with the Nottingham star sustaining significant facial damage, but Lara grimaced after body work from his rival as Wood gained an advantage as the fight reached the midway point. Lara began to look uncomfortable and slip behind on the cards in the seventh, but he landed a huge shot to send Wood to the canvas in the round.

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Wood's team elected to throw the towel in with the Nottingham star on unsteady legs in the corner, despite beating the count and Lara had his hand raised. Lara could now face several potential unification challenges in the division including against Emanuel Navarette, or Warrington's recent conqueror Luis Alberto Lopez.

Elsewhere on the card, leading prospect Dalton Smith continued his bright charge with yet another win against Billy Allington. Garry Cully also produced another devastating quickfire KO of Wilfredo Flores, but it was a less successful night for Galal Yafai who was handed his first loss after being dropped twice in defeat to Diego Alberto Ruiz.

Ben Davies