Leigh Wood has spoken out following today’s weigh-in drama ahead of his title challenge against Mexican dangerman, Mauricio Lara.
Lara won the WBA featherweight belt from Wood back in February, and the Nottingham man impressed fans by activating his immediate rematch clause.
The lead-up was soured one day before fight night, though, with Lara failing to make the championship weight limit after a mid-week intervention from the British Boxing Board of Control that said he wouldn’t be safe to do so.
He took to the scales at 129.8lbs – almost a full four pounds heavier than Wood and in touching distance of the super featherweight limit.
As the news broke, there was the threat of the fight being pulled, floated by Wood’s trainer, Ben Davison, and echoed across social media.
Amidst those calls from fans, Wood addressed how he was feeling and what was going to happen – and, spoiler alert, it doesn’t look like cancellation.
“Ready. My head’s on becoming 2 time no matter what.”
Those involved in the promotion have said there are terms in place that both sides are happy with, both financially and for safety. The latter is assumed to be, but not confirmed as, a rehydration clause for tomorrow to ensure that the fighters are in the same ball park with their weights.
Lara now enters the arena without a title, but it makes him no less dangerous.
After making the 126lbs limit for the first fight he knocked Wood out with a devastating left hook that saw the home fighter’s towel come in to save him taking any more damage.
Boxing fans will now be watching the fight through their fingers tomorrow in the fear of the same happening again, but delivered by a heavier man with not much to lose.