BoxRec

Finally.

Class fight.

much better fight than eubank v smith and less than half the price. time to get dazn again just before this one

Press Release

Matchroom Boxing’s 2023 schedule in the UK is set to begin with a bang at the Motorpoint Arena Nottingham on Saturday February 18 as hometown hero Leigh Wood puts his WBA Featherweight World Title on the line against big-punching Mexican Mauricio Lara, live worldwide on DAZN (excluding Australia and New Zealand).

‘Leigh-thal’ (26-2, 16 KOs) memorably stopped Michael Conlan in the 12th and final round of his epic first defence of the WBA 126lbs title back in March 2022, knocking the Irishman out of the ring in brutal fashion to end their Fight of the Year stunner.

The Forest-mad Featherweight was heavily dropped in the opening round and looked to be heading towards his third loss in the pros before brilliantly fighting back to earn a brilliant win that will be talked about for many years to come.

Wood is now recognised as the World Boxing Associations only Champion at Featherweight after former ‘Super Champion’ Leo Santa Cruz relinquished his title on Monday December 12, and the 34-year-old wants to waste no time in adding more World Titles to his collection in 2023.

‘Bronco’ (25-2-1, 18 KOs) has been waiting patiently for his shot at Wood after their eagerly anticipated September 24 fight was postponed following a torn bicep suffered by Wood in sparring, but the Featherweight KO artist finally gets his dream World Title opportunity next month.

Lara is well-known on UK shores after he floored and ruthlessly finished Josh Warrington in a sensational upset behind closed doors at The SSE Arena, Wembley in February 2021, ending the IBF Featherweight World Champion’s unbeaten record.

He rematched Warrington in front of a sold-out Headingley Stadium in Leeds seven months later, but a nasty cut over the left eye of the Mexican in round two caused by an accidental clash of heads resulted in the contest ending in a technical draw.

The power-punching 24-year-old blitzed Emilio Sanchez in three rounds in March 2022 on the undercard of Roman Gonzalez vs. Julio Cesar Martinez before stopping Jose Sanmartin in three in another destructive show of brute force to put the 126lbs division on notice.

“Mauricio Lara has made things personal between us with the disrespect he showed me regarding my injury and my country,” said Wood. “I’m going to show him what I’m all about. See you on February 18 Nottingham – And Still!”

“I have been waiting for this opportunity for 2 years and I am not going to waste it,” said Lara. “In February 2021 I beat Warrington in England, now in 2023 I will do the same with Wood. The WBA 126lbs World Title goes to Mexico, that I promised to my daughter, my family, my team and to my whole country. Your time has come Leigh Wood, no “injury” can save you now from this.”

“Quite simply this is a fight that you have to watch through your fingers,” said Matchroom Sport Chairman Eddie Hearn. “After the drama of the Conlan fight last March, Leigh Wood is about to bring another night of drama to the Motorpoint Arena Nottingham against the brutal, fearless and much avoided Mauricio Lara. This fight leads Leigh to the City Ground in the summer but first get ready for an epic main event and all action card as we gear up for another FOTY contender in Nottingham on February 18.”

“What a fight this is to kick off the Matchroom UK schedule in 2023,” said Joe Markowski, CEO DAZN North America. “Both Wood and Lara are incapable of being involved in anything other than brutal, toe to toe, edge of your seat fights and I for one cannot wait for February 18. Watch this barnstormer live and exclusive on DAZN."

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑02 Dec 2022, 04:34 Hearn has said it’s gonna be Santa Cruz, Lara or Martinez.

These are all good fights.
Glorious last hurrahs and a name win for Wood (probably - we don’t know…)
Or an (almost) superfight…

I don’t think Wood has the punch resistance for this to be a great fight. I feel it’ll be like Mitchell - Katsidis with the away fighter silencing the arena very quickly.

Huge respect to Wood for taking this fight but in my opinion he’s joining Quigg & Arthur on the list of British world champions who never won a world title fight.

Warrington?
Like he deserves a shot right now.
Who in their right mind would sign their fighter up for 12 rounds of heads, elbows and forearms?

i thought there was no need for a third lara fight, since in the rematch josh masterfully schooled him in the round before the lubed up head missle landed

margaret thatcher wrote: ↑11 Jan 2023, 15:47 i thought there was no need for a third lara fight, since in the rematch josh masterfully schooled him in the round before the lubed up head missle landed

Yeah, why would Lara sign on for more of that?
He was cut to ribbons.

Poor opponent for dalton smith, Allington drew against road warrior Ben fields last time out I don’t see this as a test at all. I know they want to win the British out right but surely there are better opponents as Kane gardener, Tom Farrel etc

Undercard Press Release

Dalton Smith will make the second defence of his British Super-Lightweight Title against Billy Allington on the undercard of Leigh Wood’s highly anticipated WBA Featherweight World Title showdown with avoided Mexican Mauricio Lara at the Motorpoint Arena Nottingham on Saturday February 18, live worldwide on DAZN (excluding Australia and New Zealand).

The Sheffield star (13-0, 10 KOs) recently put pen to paper on a new multi-fight promotional deal with Eddie Hearn following a stellar 2022 that saw the 25-year-old remain undefeated, and ‘Thunder’ is set to kick off an even busier year against Surrey’s former English Champion Allington (10-1-4) as he looks to win the prestigious British Title outright before moving onto the European scene.

Irish Lightweight hope Gary Cully (15-0, 9 KOs), who also recently extended his promotional deal with Matchroom Boxing, returns to the scene of his impressive stoppage triumph over former World Champion Miguel Vazquez in March last year to take on the USA’s Wilfredo Flores (10-0-1, 5 KOs) for the vacant WBA Intercontinental Title ahead of what promises to be a huge year for the ‘The Diva’.

Gravesend Cruiserweight Cheavon Clarke (4-0, 4 KOs) has ended all four of his fights inside the distance since turning pro last February, including a brutal second round stoppage win over Jose Gregorio Ulrich last time out caused by a perfectly timed uppercut, and the former Team GB Olympian steps up next month in an Eliminator for the English Cruiserweight Title against Scunthorpe’s Dec Spelman (19-6, 9 KOs).

Former European Super-Bantamweight Champion Gamal Yafai (19-2, 11 KOs) returned to winning ways by stopping Sean Cairns in four rounds last June after losing his EBU Title to Jason Cunningham in May 2021, and the 31-year-old from Birmingham begins 2023 with a ten-rounder against Argentina’s Diego Alberto Ruiz (23-6-1, 12 KOs) as he aims to get back to title action later in the year.

Northampton’s Kieron Conway (18-3-1, 4 KOs) meets Portugal’s Jorge Silva (21-7, 12 KOs) over eight rounds at Super-Middleweight following his points loss to Austin Williams on the Canelo vs. Golovkin 3 undercard last September, Rotherham Super-Welterweight talent Junaid Bostan (4-0, 4 KOs) fights for the third time under the Matchroom banner after inking a deal with Eddie Hearn last September and popular Mansfield Super-Bantamweight Nico Leivars (3-0-1) squares off against Spain’s Alberto Motos (2-0) over six rounds.

Butti99 wrote: ↑11 Jan 2023, 20:01 Poor opponent for dalton smith, Allington drew against road warrior Ben fields last time out I don’t see this as a test at all. I know they want to win the British out right but surely there are better opponents as Kane gardener, Tom Farrel etc

I hadn’t heard of Allington before this announcement which says something.

I do wonder if the other guys at light-welter actually want the tougher fights. Sam Maxwell seems to have turned down Smith before and Azim too. Ohara Davies and Ritson are both inactive whilst their talked about fight never happens. Robbie Davies would have been a good fight but seems to be fighting Paro next and I’m not sure what Eubank Jr is doing.

Either way, it’s a poor fight.

I quite like the Cheavon Clarke fight though. It’s a good fight for a 4-0 I think.

No idea on Cully’s opponent. Could be decent but could be poor also.

Galal Yafai is in a decent fight. Wasn’t long ago Ruiz drew with McGregor and he usually comes to win.

maverick23 wrote: ↑12 Jan 2023, 02:59
Galal Yafai is in a decent fight. Wasn’t long ago Ruiz drew with McGregor and he usually comes to win.

It’s Gamal Yafai. It Galal.

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑12 Jan 2023, 04:06

maverick23 wrote: ↑12 Jan 2023, 02:59
Galal Yafai is in a decent fight. Wasn’t long ago Ruiz drew with McGregor and he usually comes to win.

It’s Gamal Yafai. It Galal.

Yes - I think it auto-corrected on me.

a force wrote: ↑09 Jan 2023, 19:48 I don’t think Wood has the punch resistance for this to be a great fight. I feel it’ll be like Mitchell - Katsidis with the away fighter silencing the arena very quickly.

Huge respect to Wood for taking this fight but in my opinion he’s joining Quigg & Arthur on the list of British world champions who never won a world title fight.

Didn’t he show decent punch resistance against Conlan or is Conlan a relatively light puncher ?

a force wrote: ↑09 Jan 2023, 19:48 I don’t think Wood has the punch resistance for this to be a great fight. I feel it’ll be like Mitchell - Katsidis with the away fighter silencing the arena very quickly.

Huge respect to Wood for taking this fight but in my opinion he’s joining Quigg & Arthur on the list of British world champions who never won a world title fight.

What do you mean hasn’t won a world title fight??

JamesPhilips wrote: ↑12 Jan 2023, 09:32

a force wrote: ↑09 Jan 2023, 19:48 I don’t think Wood has the punch resistance for this to be a great fight. I feel it’ll be like Mitchell - Katsidis with the away fighter silencing the arena very quickly.

Huge respect to Wood for taking this fight but in my opinion he’s joining Quigg & Arthur on the list of British world champions who never won a world title fight.

What do you mean hasn’t won a world title fight??

Wood is recognised FULL champion now

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑12 Jan 2023, 09:33

JamesPhilips wrote: ↑12 Jan 2023, 09:32

a force wrote: ↑09 Jan 2023, 19:48 I don’t think Wood has the punch resistance for this to be a great fight. I feel it’ll be like Mitchell - Katsidis with the away fighter silencing the arena very quickly.

Huge respect to Wood for taking this fight but in my opinion he’s joining Quigg & Arthur on the list of British world champions who never won a world title fight.

What do you mean hasn’t won a world title fight??

Wood is recognised FULL champion now

Oh ok so his previous fights were WBA ‘regular” or something? The Boxrec listing doesn’t differentiate.
Still I think it’s a little unfair to judge Wood in this way.

JamesPhilips wrote: ↑12 Jan 2023, 09:38

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑12 Jan 2023, 09:33

JamesPhilips wrote: ↑12 Jan 2023, 09:32

What do you mean hasn’t won a world title fight??

Wood is recognised FULL champion now

Oh ok so his previous fights were WBA ‘regular” or something? The Boxrec listing doesn’t differentiate.
Still I think it’s a little unfair to judge Wood in this way.

When it's regular, it just says WBA champion, It says if it was 'Super', as it would for LSC.

I hope they leave the Featherweight division alone now.

JamesPhilips wrote: ↑12 Jan 2023, 09:32

a force wrote: ↑09 Jan 2023, 19:48 I don’t think Wood has the punch resistance for this to be a great fight. I feel it’ll be like Mitchell - Katsidis with the away fighter silencing the arena very quickly.

Huge respect to Wood for taking this fight but in my opinion he’s joining Quigg & Arthur on the list of British world champions who never won a world title fight.

What do you mean hasn’t won a world title fight??

He only became a world champion a couple of weeks ago. They’ve only just stripped Santa Cruz

CaptainSpacerod wrote: ↑12 Jan 2023, 07:20

a force wrote: ↑09 Jan 2023, 19:48 I don’t think Wood has the punch resistance for this to be a great fight. I feel it’ll be like Mitchell - Katsidis with the away fighter silencing the arena very quickly.

Huge respect to Wood for taking this fight but in my opinion he’s joining Quigg & Arthur on the list of British world champions who never won a world title fight.

Didn’t he show decent punch resistance against Conlan or is Conlan a relatively light puncher ?

I don’t think Conlan’s as light of a puncher as many make him out to be but I don’t think he hits anywhere near as hard as Lara does.

If Gavin McDonnell can take you out & Conlan can drop you heavily & you aren’t the most evasive fighter I think it’s a tough night against Lara

Lmao





But then he agrees that Nick Ball stops them both on the same night.

Wood said if he does what he plans, then the fight won’t go past half way.

Then he’s gna say, “Lara didn’t let me do what I wanted to.”