Leigh Wood has activated his rematch clause in an attempt to win his WBA World Featherweight world title from Mauricio Lara.
The Mexican danger man took the title in devastating fashion in February of this year. After a closely fought contest that found Wood up on the cards in his hometown, the pair traded left hands in the seventh but Lara’s was the one to end up on the highlight reel.
The Nottingham man dropped to the deck hard. He made the count, but as soon as the referee set them fighting again, Ben Davison threw in the towel. It was a decision that was disputed by Wood in the moment, but later he thanked his trainer for it.
Despite making his intentions clear from the start to have a second crack at Lara, a carrot was dangled in front of Wood in the form of a domestic dust-up with Josh Warrington.
Ultimately, though, Wood choose to step in with Lara twice – something any man should be commended for given his ferocity.
‘Leigh-thal’ won the WBA Regular title from China’s Can Xu in 2021. Full champion, Leo Santa Cruz, vacating his belt saw Wood elevated to the sanctioning body’s sole champ, and he cemented that status with an incredible twelfth round stoppage over Michael Conlan after 2022’s fight of the year.
Lara was deserving of his position, too. A shock win over Josh Warrington in February of 2021 saw a bitter rivalry follow. Their rematch later in the year was cut short due to a clash of heads, and the Mexican is still searching for the trilogy.
Meanwhile, he won two by knockout before getting the call from Wood. He’ll be confident of the same result come May 27 in Manchester.
The show will be available to DAZN customers as part of their subscription fee, and will feature new Matchroom signing, Jack Catterall, in the co-main event.