The WBA title is just on the road for Wood although, after a excessive weight verify earlier within the week led to the British Boxing Board of Control ruling that it will not be protected for Lara to weigh in on Friday below 128.5lbs, nonetheless effectively over the the 126lbs restrict. He has are available in almost 4 kilos heavier than Wood, with the sanctioning physique confirming the Mexican has lost his title in consequence.
A bit of over three months is all that has handed since a fateful night in Nottingham, when hometown favorite Wood boxed splendidly towards his ultra-dangerous challenger in entrance of a raucous crowd and led on all three judges scorecards, earlier than letting his focus slip for a split-second within the seventh spherical and paying the total worth as he was felled by a vicious left hook to the chin.
Trainer Ben Davison threw within the towel to stop any additional punishment, with the hard-hitting and explosive Lara sensing extra fireworks as he grabbed the WBA belt at 126lbs to grow to be a world champion for the primary time in his profession. But it’s proved to be short-lived.
Wood was left to rue his expensive error on the night time, however shortly set about planning to earn again the title he gained with an upset of Xu Can in 2021 and defended efficiently in a thrilling win over Michael Conlan, whereas Lara continued his ugly feud with Josh Warrington after allegedly spitting at his former opponent at ringside.
The stakes are excessive certainly on an enormous night time in a full of life featherweight division, with Conlan additionally difficult Luis Alberto Lopez - who squeezed previous Warrington on factors in December - for his IBF gold in Belfast.
Lara vs Wood 2 takes place on the AO Arena in Manchester on a bumper night time of boxing on Saturday May 27, 2023 - the identical night time as Lopez vs Conlan and the WBO cruiserweight title conflict between Lawrence Okolie and Chris Billam-Smith in Bournemouth.
The foremost undercard is because of begin at 7pm BST, with foremost occasion ring walks anticipated at round 10pm as issues stand. As ever, these timings are topic to alter relying on the size of the sooner bouts.
On Saturday’s undercard, Jack Catterall makes his Matchroom debut, whereas Terri Harper defends her WBA super-welterweight title every week later than deliberate. Harper now faces former two-weight world champion Ivana Habazin of Croatia, having seen Cecila Braekhus pull out of their scheduled bout on the Katie Taylor-Chantelle Cameron undercard in Dublin on account of sickness.
The vacant English welterweight title is up for grabs as Danny Ball meets Jamie Robinson, whereas Campbell Hatton appears to be like for skilled win quantity 12. William Crolla, the youthful brother of former WBA light-weight champion Anthony, additionally makes his professional debut early on in his hometown.
Mauricio Lara vs Leigh Wood 2
Jack Catterall vs Darragh Foley
Terri Harper vs Ivana Habazin
Danny Ball vs Jamie Robinson
Aaron Bowen vs Aljaz Venko
Campbell Hatton vs Michal Bulik
Aqib Fiaz vs Costin Ion
William Crolla vs Joe Hardy
TV channel: Lara vs Wood 2 is being broadcast reside through sport streaming service to DAZN, which is now out there through Sky channel 429 within the UK.
Live stream: DAZN subscribers can even catch the motion on-line through the web site or app. A subscription to DAZN presently begins at £9.99 per thirty days within the UK.
Wood received his gameplan virtually spot on for six rounds towards Lara again in February, irritating the heavy-handed Mexican regardless of a nasty lower sustained early on following a conflict of heads.
Though he was harm a few occasions, he got here firing again and put Lara in hassle twice as an outstanding bout wore on, earlier than leaving his defences crucially open within the seventh as he tried to throw a left hook and received smashed with one from his rival as a substitute.
To ask Wood to struggle like that once more, however for 12 rounds this time, appears a really tall order, particularly contemplating that weight drawback. Lara is such a harmful and big-hitting opponent anyway and this simply provides to his menace, with the Mexican additionally seemingly annoyed on the method issues have transpired this week.
If it goes to the playing cards then Wood will win, however in actuality we're predicting that issues will play out equally to the primary struggle, with Lara being annoyed for durations earlier than uncorking his devastating knockout energy as soon as once more within the center to late rounds.
Lara to win by knockout.
Wood got here in on championship weight, tipping the scales at 125.9lbs on Friday afternoon.
However, the British Boxing Board of Control dominated that Lara couldn't weigh in at lower than 128.5lbs, on account of a excessive weight verify earlier within the week. The Mexican formally weighed in at 129.8lbs and was later stripped of the WBA title, which is now vacant and may solely be gained by Wood on Saturday.
Lara to win: 4/11
Wood to win: 23/10
Draw: 16/1
Lara to win by KO/TKO: 1/2
Wood to win by KO/TKO: 7/1
Lara to win by factors or choice: 9/1
Wood to win by factors or choice: 4/1
Odds through Betfair (topic to alter).
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