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Leigh Wood vs Mauricio Lara Result: Brit Stopped By Devastating Left Hook

Written by Kerr Ferguson on 18th February 2023.

Leigh Wood vs Mauricio Lara Result

Mexico’s Mauricio Lara came from behind to stop Leigh Wood in his hometown of Nottingham, winning his world title and proving right the fans who warned the Brit against the fight.

Wood returned to Nottingham’s Motorpoint Arena after a knockout of the year over Michael Conlan in 2022. This time, he faced Mauricio Lara – the fighter who embodies the fighting spirit of Mexico. He’s best known to British fans for demolishing Josh Warrington in 2021. Or he was, anyway…

Lara made his way to the ring with a sombrero and a smile, somehow making him even more sinister. Wood commanded the support of the entire arena and UK fans further afield as he walked towards what many called an unnecessarily dangerous title defence.

He has shown himself to be a true people’s champion – a mutual love between fighter and community. With a win over Can Xu coming before the Conlan cracker, this completed a trilogy of tests for ‘Leigh-thal’.

When the first bell rang, the champion held centre ring and pawed out a jab to measure the distance. Lara showed how quickly he could spring in and out, though. A nice right hook landed from Wood to keep the Mexican – who was paying attention to the body – honest. A clash of heads caused a cut above the right eye of Wood – a horrible reminder of how Lara’s rematch with Josh Warrington ended, although the Mexican was on the receiving end that time.

In the second, a bloodied Wood was throwing with serious intent. He landed a solid left hook but Lara didn’t waver, biding his time and throwing back an effective combination before a big right hand that hurt Wood. He opened up and really battered the hometown man right up until the bell.

The third started slowly, both fighters waiting for the opportunity to counter. Wood broke the deadlock with a couple landed, and then some more halfway through the round. Lara extremely tentative for the full three minutes.

An advert for punch resistance in the fourth round – both landing and taking big shots. It was hard to pick between them at this stage, but a distinct feeling that scoring this one would still be still futile. Lara acknowledged a good body shot from Wood in the fifth – perhaps a little low – and began to look slower in his movements. A good round for Wood who would find himself up on most scorecards.

Lara tried desperately tried to turn the tide in the sixth, and had a little success doing so, but it was Wood’s fight to lose at the halfway stage. Entering the seventh, the bout was going longer than the majority of fans thought it would be.

Just as it looked like the Mexican’s explosiveness had started to fade, he did what he’s now known for – broke the hearts of UK fight fans and knocked out a hometown hero. A perfect left hook as they both exchanged dropped Wood, heavy. He made the count and wanted to fight on.

Just as the referee was set to let it be, Ben Davison’s towel landed in his arms. He had pulled his fighter out. Wood wasn’t happy, and it will be picked apart in the replays given there was only seconds left, but on thing’s for sure – the fighter was hurt. In the aftermath, Lara handed Wood the sombrero he wore to the ring. He then squared up to a ringside Josh Warrington.

Heartbreak for Wood. Heartbreak for his ever so loyal fans. Undiluted elation for Lara, who had deserved his shot long before this. And the new…

Elsewhere on the Matchroom / DAZN card, Dalton Smith retained his British Super Lightweight title with a decision victory over a durable Billy Allington. Despite the win, Smith left the ring disappointed to not gain an eleventh career stoppage and receive a cut around the left eye for good measure. It may delay his April-targeted return.

Ireland’s Gary Cully scored a second round stoppage over Wilfredo Flores to move to 16-0 in the lightweight division. The 6′ 2″ southpaw will be out again on the Katie Taylor card set for May 20.

Cruiserweight Cheavon Clarke almost added a fifth knockout to his record in as many fights by dropping Israel Duffus in the final seconds, but the away fighter made the count and saw the final bell. A unanimous decision for Clarke.

Gamal Yafai was dominated by Argentina’s Diego Alberto Ruiz in the super bantamweight ranks, the Brit being dropped three times on his was to a decision loss, and a punishing one at that. It may be his last time out.