Former WBC cruiserweight world champion, Tony Bellew, has acknowledged the massive risk that Leigh Wood is taking by opting to fight Mexican bogeyman, Mauricio Lara.
Wood had a memorable year last year, stopping Michael Conlan in the final round of their bout and winning the Ring Magazine Fight of the Year and Knockout of the Year awards in the process.
It was capped off by being crowned the WBA world champion after his ‘Regular’ title was upgraded when Leo Santa Cruz relinquished his belt.
In the other corner is Lara – who made himself known to UK fans in 2021 by pulling off one of the major upsets in recent years when he knocked out former IBF world champion, Josh Warrington, despite being an 11/1 pre-fight underdog.
Since then, the 24-year-old has been on a mission to show that his victory over the ‘Leeds Warrior’ was no fluke and – after a frustrating no-contest in his rematch with Warrington – has secured back-to-back third round knockouts in the division.
Wood pulled out of a fight against Lara in September after suffering a torn bicep, the fight is now rescheduled for Wood’s hometown of Nottingham.
Ahead of the event, Bellew said on the DAZN Boxing Show that fighting ‘Bronco’ in a voluntary defence of his world title is a dangerous move from Wood.
“It’s a dangerous one, when you consider what this boy’s got as options. That Conlan rematch is an absolutely mouthwatering rematch in the summer, with Josh Warrington at Elland Road or the City Ground, take your pick.
“It’s massive. It is what it’s labelled as: dancing with the devil. Fair play to Leigh Wood, I can’t wait to see it.”
As Bellew mentioned, a fight with Josh Warrington could await the winner after the 32-year-old lost his world title in December.
The trilogy with fierce nemesis Lara (1 L 1 NC) for a world title would capture the attention of the boxing world, however an all-British clash with Wood could be the talk of the nation.
With it all to play for, Wood’s fight with the much-avoided Lara is sure to be a barnstormer and will be available to watch live on DAZN on February 18.