Mauricio Lara Stops Leigh Wood in 7

Mauricio Lara Stops Leigh Wood in 7

All the good work Leigh Wood had done in close to 7 rounds was eradicated by one sweeping left hook from Mauricio Lara and his reign as the WBA featherweight champion was over just when he looked set for an unlikely victory.

Despite a cut over his left eye, Wood was in control and well ahead on every scorecard, and he seemed to have rode out the early storm in front of his vocal Nottingham faithful. After a tight opening round that could have gone either way, Lara took control towards the end of the 2nd round, landing thudding shots that seemed to spell imminent doom for the Nottingham fighter. But the Mexican challenger took the next round off, and Wood found a little semblance of hope. The expectation that Lara would reassert his authority never came. Wood boxed beyond most expectations, and Lara looked crude in comparison. Yet again, it looked as though Wood would defy the odds.

Lara was fighting in spurts, and while the danger was never far away, Wood was winning the rounds, outboxing and outworking the dangerous challenger in front of him, and he seemed to be taking the Mexican”s punches better than how Lara was taking his. But Lara had that great equaliser that suddenly and violently brought the fight to its brutal conclusion. Lara exploded a left hook that landed flush on Wood’s chin, and even though he bravely got back to his feet, his corner sensibly threw the towel in. Wood was quite rightly saved for another day. Ben Davison will get criticised for the stoppage with only seconds left in the 7th round. From ringside, it seemed the only call to make regardless of how much time remained.

Wood deserves immense credit for dancing with the devil and for the way he was performing until that left hook found his chin. The rematch clause will undoubtedly be activated, and Lara will have to enter the lions den once again later this year. This is one rematch that nobody will complain about. Although a watching Josh Warrington could get his third opportunity at the new champion. But with only one win in his last four fights, Warrington should not be allowed to jump the queue at the expense of Wood. I’m not usually in favour of immediate rematches, but Lara/Wood is the exception.

In truth, Lara should have had his chance at a world title long before now. But when it came, he didn’t waste it. There are faults, and many of them, but when you carry the power that he does, they seem irrelevant. Leigh Wood will testify to that.

Photo Credit: Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing