Mauricio Lara failed to satisfy the British Boxing Board of Control at the check weight for his rematch with Leigh Wood, and the organisation has ruled he can’t safely make the 126lb championship limit.
There have been rumours all fight week that the Mexican was struggling with the weight cut, and those were confirmed today.
Eddie Hearn has revealed that Mauricio Lara has been ordered by the Board to not weigh in less than 128.5lbs – two and a half pounds over the limit. The promoter then said the WBA would make an individual ruling, although it would be unprecedented that they let Lara continue to hold the title.
When the champion did take to the scales, he was 129.8lbs. Wood weighed in at 125.9lbs. A big difference for an already dangerous fight.
It means Wood will likely go into the fight – should it go ahead as planned – the only eligible participant to win the belt, something that could buoy him but certainly doesn’t cancel out the threat of Lara’s power. If Lara wins for a second time, the title will be vacant.
The Nottingham man was boxing well back in February when the pair traded left hooks in the seventh. Lara’s was the one to end up on the highlight reel, though, sending Wood to the canvas and hurting him badly.
He rose, valiantly, but trainer Ben Davison threw in the towel before the referee could restart the action. It’s that left hand that the team will have trained to avoid all camp.
Fans will have an even keener eye on the contest with this weigh-in drama – the main question being will the often-frenzied Mexican fighter let his frustrations out in the ring, or will the effects of losing a title on the scales put him out of sorts?