Mexican outsider Mauricio Lara is certainly talking a good fight ahead of his unexpected opportunity against Josh Warrington this weekend.
Lara (21-2, 14 KOs) was plucked from relative obscurity to challenge Warrington for the Yorkshireman’s IBF belt in mid-January, only for the Leeds warrior to vacate the belt a week later rather than face mandatory challenger and previous foe Kid Galahad.
Warrington, widely considered the world’s No.1 featherweight, wanted to chase other champions at 126lbs, but his sudden abdication didn’t derail the Lara fight and the Mexican can still gatecrash the world title picture with an unlikely win on Saturday at the SSE Arena, Wembley,
Currently a 12-1 outsider with Betfred, Mexico City’s Lara insists he is not worried about the scorecards in the UK with compatriot Miguel Vazquez among those visiting boxers to have received a raw deal from British judges in recent times – in two eye-rubbing decision losses against Ohara Davies and Lewis Ritson.
“Initially, when I heard it was a world title fight, I was really excited and motivated,” said Lara. “When the news came that it was no longer going to be a world title fight it didn’t change things. I remained just as motivated. We’ve prepared to do a job and that’s what we’re going to do. I’ve prepared to come and win. I know that I am going to win. I’ve prepared really hard to go to war in the ring.
“I’m not concerned about the decisions of the judges if it goes to points. We’ve come prepared to win, whether that is by knockout, which would be ideal, but if not I’m going to make sure it is a clear victory so it doesn’t need to depend on the judges. Either way, I think they will do their jobs correctly.
“Josh Warrington is seen as the world’s number one featherweight fighter in Mexico and he’s number one for a reason. They also believe in me and they know that I am going to war in London on Saturday.”
Main image: Matchroom Boxing.