‘The shot of a lifetime’

Leigh Wood unsuccessful to defend his WBA featherweight title just after staying stopped by Mexican knockout artist Mauricio Lara in Nottingham.

Combating in entrance of his hometown, Wooden was dropped by a brutal left hook in the seventh spherical at the Motorpoint Arena.

He bravely bought back to his toes to fight on, but his trainer Ben Davison quickly threw in the towel with his guy in no posture to carry on – considerably to Wood’s disappointment.

Wooden had been battling with a slice by his left eye adhering to an accidental clash of heads in the very first spherical.

But he didn’t let the blood trickling down his face trouble him as he showed grit and coronary heart to force his opponent back again.

Heading into the second 50 percent of the fight, Wood appeared to be in handle of the bout, only to be floored by a counter hook to leave him sprawled across the canvas.

It is the 2nd time that Lara has dispatched a British boxer in devastating manner soon after blasting absent Josh Warrington in February 2021.

Talking on talkSPORT’s Battle Night time, Adam Catterall lauded the efficiency of Wooden, but praised the punch from the heavens by Lara.

He reported: “For seven rounds, Leigh Wooden was canine strolling Mauricio Lara all around Nottingham.

“And then Mauricio Lara has just landed the shot of a lifetime on his chin to knock him out.

“When I say knocked him out, the referee was well prepared to toss Leigh Wood back into the struggle, but Ben Davison threw in the towel mainly because it was unquestionably evident Leigh Wood was in no in good shape condition to carry on.

“A shot out of the blue, Leigh Wood was cozy in the combat, and then that major, potent still left hook landed on his whiskers and Mauricio Lara is the new WBA featherweight champion.

“A heartbreaking evening for Leigh, an unbelievable fight, a excellent way that he was participating in by those people rounds up until eventually that stage, but you’ve acquired to choose your hat off to Lara simply because that is some finish.”

It is Wood’s first reduction considering that getting stopped by Jazza Dickens in 2020, and with the boxer having a rematch clause, it continues to be to be witnessed no matter whether he invokes it.

Lara’s previous foe Warrington exposed at ringside that his rival spat towards him immediately after his victory as he welcomed a trilogy bout immediately after their rematch ended in a attract.

He mentioned on DAZN: “He seemed more than to me and spat at me. It was just a bit pantomime.

“He wishes to end my occupation and I am joyful to allow him have the likelihood.”