Leigh Wood vs Mauricio Lara LIVE: Result as Briton regains title with points win
Leigh Wood regained the WBA featherweight title with a decision win over Mauricio Lara on Saturday, avenging a knockout loss to the Mexican in the process.
Wood was fighting in his hometown of Nottingham in February when he suffered a controversial TKO defeat by Lara, who took the WBA belt from the 34-year-old in Round 7.
However, Lara, 25, was stripped of the title on Friday (26 May), after failing to make weight for his Manchester rematch with Wood. Furthermore, only Wood was eligible to win the vacant title in the main-event bout.
And Wood did just that, knocking down Lara in Round 2 and going on to beat the Mexican via unanimous decision. Elsewhere, Chris Billam-Smith won his first world title, and Michael Conlan suffered a brutal KO loss â more on those results below.
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Leigh Wood vs Mauricio Lara 2
Wood outpointed Lara to regain WBA featherweight title
Briton lost belt to Mexican with controversial TKO in February
Only Wood was eligible to win vacant title on Saturday
Wood was a unanimous-decision winner in Manchester
Elsewhere, Chris Billam-Smith won his first world title
Meanwhile, Michael Conlan suffered a KO loss in Belfast
Leigh Wood vs Mauricio Lara 2 LIVE
00:14 , Alex Pattle
Leigh Woodâs world-title redemption was not the only story of the night!
Elsewhere, Bournemouthâs own Chris Billam-Smith outpointed ex-sparring partner Lawrence Okolie at the home of AFC Bournemouth, winning the WBO cruiserweight title in the process.
But in Belfast, Michael Conlan did not enjoy such a happy homecoming. The Northern Irishman was knocked out by Luis Alberto Lopez in Round 5.
All you need to know is right here:
Leigh Wood and Chris Billam-Smith win world titles with victories over familiar foes
Leigh Wood vs Mauricio Lara 2 LIVE
23:49 , Alex Pattle
Leigh Wood def. Mauricio Lara via unanimous decision (118-109, 118-109, 116-111).
And new! Wood regains the WBA featherweight belt!
He shows respect to Lara and dons a sombrero.
Leigh Wood vs Mauricio Lara 2 LIVE
23:46 , Alex Pattle
Round 12
Final round. Lara with a left hook, but Wood absorbs it well.
Now the Briton tags Lara to the body, before ushering him into space like a matador.
Lara plods forward. Now he lunges at Wood. Thirty seconds to go...
The fans get on their feet for Wood... the bell rings! Lara knows Wood has done it, so does âLeigh-thalâ!
Leigh Wood vs Mauricio Lara 2 LIVE
23:42 , Alex Pattle
Round 11
Into the championship rounds! Again Lara is warned for leading with his head.
Wood flicks out to jabs. Lara leaps into range with a left hook thatâs just off the mark.
Wood with a crisp right cross!
Leigh Wood vs Mauricio Lara 2 LIVE
23:37 , Alex Pattle
Round 10
Wood has to stay composed and avoid any silly mistakes.
Lara is closing him down, but heâs struggling to land clean.
Wood with a fine left hook, and now Lara stumbles to the mat, off-balance after a body shot!
Leigh Wood vs Mauricio Lara 2 LIVE
23:34 , Alex Pattle
Round 9
As it stands, Wood is cruising to a decision win. Another tame round.
Leigh Wood vs Mauricio Lara 2 LIVE
23:29 , Alex Pattle
Round 8
Wood catches Lara as the Mexican steps in, tagging the younger man with a sharp right cross.
Wood is staying focused, fighting on the front foot and feinting consistently.
Now Lara lunges forward with a left hook, before following up with a body shot.
Leigh Wood vs Mauricio Lara 2 LIVE
23:26 , Alex Pattle
Round 7
Lara needs to get going here. Now heâs staggered by an uppercut and left hook!
Lara tries a combination, with a piercing jab on point but his heavier shots missing.
Wood lost the first fight late in Round 7... heâs into the eighth here!
Leigh Wood vs Mauricio Lara 2 LIVE
23:22 , Alex Pattle
Round 6
The fight has slowed down a fair bit overall. That suits wood for now.
Still, he skips into range and lands a right hook, then a cross.
Lara just misses with a vicious hook attempt. Now he snaps back Woodâs head with a jab.
Wood almost runs at Lara, crossing his own feet as he closes range.
Leigh Wood vs Mauricio Lara 2 LIVE
23:18 , Alex Pattle
Round 5
Wood backs Lara onto the ropes again, then peppers him with well-timed straight shots.
Now Lara bursts forward with winging hooks. Both men land jabs simultaneously.
Lara lands a left hook and right cross. And the same two punches again!
Woodâs face is inked with blood from that cut around his eye.
Leigh Wood vs Mauricio Lara 2 LIVE
23:14 , Alex Pattle
Round 4
This has been a good start for Wood, but Lara is dangerous from Round 1 to Round 12.
Wood backs up the Mexican here but refrains from throwing. He instead feints the jab.
Wood with a chopping right cross to a crouching Lara now.
The crowd boos another spell of inactivity, but this fight could be changed by a single punch â as the first clash was.
Wood is keeping Lara on the back foot, but the Mexican lands a right hook late in the round, bloodying the Briton around his eye.
Leigh Wood vs Mauricio Lara 2 LIVE
23:09 , Alex Pattle
Round 3
Lara is warned for leading with his head.
The action resumes and he lands a solid left hook in the clinch. Now the fighters separate, and Wood lands a clean right cross!
Lara felt that, but he fires back with a powerful body shot...
Lara is lunging in with his jab and struggling for accuracy... Wood punishes him with a right hand! Lara comes back with hooks. This is a fun one.
Lara with a left hook up top, now two hooks to the body.
Leigh Wood vs Mauricio Lara 2 LIVE
23:06 , Alex Pattle
Round 2
That was a largely uneventful first round, but Wood likely took it.
Wood skips from side to side. Lara staggers Wood with a left hook â the shot that dropped him in the first fight â but falls after a push...
The crowd got a little excited there, but it wasnât a knockdown by Wood. Lara is back up, and heâs staggered somewhat by a jab.
Wood just misses with a left hook. He feints a level change. Now he tries a right uppercut and left hook; both seem to be blocked, but that will give the Mexican something to think about.
Lara closes range by stepping in with a couple of body hooks. A jab is on point for Lara, but then heâs put down by an uppercut!!!
Heâs still got his wits about him as he beats the refereeâs count, but thatâs promising for Wood late in the round!
Leigh Wood vs Mauricio Lara 2 LIVE
23:02 , Alex Pattle
Round 1
Both fighters stand orthodox. Wood gently presses forward, flicking out jabs. He was leading the first fight before the controversial TKO.
Lara looks even more patient. He finally lets go with a hook to the body, then acknowledges a decent combination from Wood.
Even though this fight is in Manchester, not Woodâs hometown of Nottingham like the first clash, the crowd sings: âLeigh Wood, heâs one of our own.â
Leigh Wood vs Mauricio Lara 2 LIVE: Main-event ring walks
22:58 , Alex Pattle
Here we go! Main event under way!
Leigh Wood vs Mauricio Lara 2 LIVE: Main-event ring walks
22:55 , Alex Pattle
Wood paces around the ring as heâs introduced.
Leigh Wood vs Mauricio Lara 2 LIVE: Main-event ring walks
22:54 , Alex Pattle
The fighter introductions are under way.
Leigh Wood vs Mauricio Lara 2 LIVE: Main-event ring walks
22:49 , Alex Pattle
Now here comes Lara, 25, who has a pro record of 26-2-1, including 19 wins via KO.
Leigh Wood vs Mauricio Lara 2 LIVE: Main-event ring walks
22:47 , Alex Pattle
Wood, 34, is out first! The Britonâs loss to Lara in February was the third defeat of his professional career.
âLeigh-thalâ has 26 pro wins, though, with 16 having come via knockout.
The Nottingham fighter emerges with a sombrero on his back...
Leigh Wood vs Mauricio Lara 2 LIVE: Main-event ring walks
22:45 , Alex Pattle
âSweet Carolineâ has come and gone at Manchesterâs AO Arena...
Itâs time for the main-event ring walks!
Leigh Wood vs Mauricio Lara 2 LIVE: Main-event ring walks
22:44 , Alex Pattle
In their first meeting, Lara beat Wood late in Round 7, as the latterâs coach Ben Davison threw in the towel â despite his fighter beating the refereeâs counter after a knockdown.
Some suggested that Davison acted prematurely. Hereâs what Steve Bunce had to say:
Controversial Leigh Wood stoppage was the right call
Leigh Wood vs Mauricio Lara 2 LIVE: Main-event ring walks
22:39 , Alex Pattle
A reminder that Lara was stripped of the WBA featherweight title, which he won from Wood in February, yesterday after failing to make weight.
Furthermore, only Wood is eligible to win the now-vacant belt in this bout.
Leigh Wood vs Mauricio Lara 2 LIVE: Main-event ring walks
22:33 , Alex Pattle
The ring walks for the main event are due very shortly!
Leigh Wood vs Mauricio Lara 2 LIVE: Jack Catterall vs Darragh Foley
22:29 , Alex Pattle
Jack Catterall def. Darragh Foley via unanimous decision (99-88, 98-89, 97-90).
Catterall collects the WBA Intercontinental super-lightweight title!
Leigh Wood vs Mauricio Lara 2 LIVE: Jack Catterall vs Darragh Foley
22:25 , Alex Pattle
Round 10
The fighters embrace each other to begin this final round.
However, itâs not long until Foley complains yet again of a low blow. In defence of Catterall, Foley was almost off the ground as he closed distance and the shot landed.
Foley is looking for Catterall, who is content to get to the scorecards at this point.
Foley finds his opponent, though, and a messy end to the fight ensues! That was a fun one.
Leigh Wood vs Mauricio Lara 2 LIVE: Jack Catterall vs Darragh Foley
22:20 , Alex Pattle
Round 9
Penultimate round. Foley steps in with a good lead right hook.
But Catterall fires back with a brutal hook of his own, and down goes Foley!!
He beats the refereeâs count, but Catterall senses a finish! He applies pressure in the corner...
The men grapple, and Catterall nearly falls through the ropes!
Foley is complaining of low blows; Catterall is certainly landing close to the belt line.
Foley has done very well to make it to the end of the round after that knockdown.
Leigh Wood vs Mauricio Lara 2 LIVE: Jack Catterall vs Darragh Foley
22:16 , Alex Pattle
Round 8
Foley with a jousting jab. Now another gets through. He backs up Catterall, who circles into space.
Now Catterall gets back behind his jab. Forward comes Foley again, but he just misses with an overhand.
Leigh Wood vs Mauricio Lara 2 LIVE: Jack Catterall vs Darragh Foley
22:12 , Alex Pattle
Round 7
Catterall drops Foley to a knee, then Catterall tags him again!
Foley beats the refereeâs count, and Catterall is going to be docked a point here.
Foley is okay to continue, and both fighters are landing with increasing frequency here.
Catterall targets the body, then the head. A very entertaining end to the round.
Leigh Wood vs Mauricio Lara 2 LIVE: Jack Catterall vs Darragh Foley
22:07 , Alex Pattle
Round 6
Foley gets through with a left cross. Catterall with hooks to the body.
He tries for another but lands a little too low. Weâll have a brief break in the action while Foley recovers.
Leigh Wood vs Mauricio Lara 2 LIVE: Jack Catterall vs Darragh Foley
22:03 , Alex Pattle
Round 5
Foley is looking desperate already. Maybe itâs just frustration.
Catterall picks his moment with a lovely uppercut. Thereâs a brief pause in the action, as Catterall needs his corner to re-tie his shoelace.
Back under way. The trend of the fight continues.
Leigh Wood vs Mauricio Lara 2 LIVE: Jack Catterall vs Darragh Foley
21:59 , Alex Pattle
Round 4
Foley tries to close range with his jab, but Catterall uses a counter right hook and some slick head movement in response.
Foleyâs face is getting redder by the round, as he continues to be punished by Catterallâs jab.
Leigh Wood vs Mauricio Lara 2 LIVE: Jack Catterall vs Darragh Foley
21:57 , Alex Pattle
The advice from Catterallâs corner is not to get drawn into a brawl. Heâs doing a good job at avoiding that so far.
Catterallâs jab is landing at a 57 percent success rate, while Foleyâs is at 15 percent.
Leigh Wood vs Mauricio Lara 2 LIVE: Jack Catterall vs Darragh Foley
21:55 , Alex Pattle
Catterall looks very calm in his corner, absorbing all that his team has to say.
Leigh Wood vs Mauricio Lara 2 LIVE: Jack Catterall vs Darragh Foley
21:55 , Alex Pattle
Round 3
Catterall is just picking Foley apart with the jab now! Foley is game, continuing to march down his opponent, but he canât get close.
Leigh Wood vs Mauricio Lara 2 LIVE: Jack Catterall vs Darragh Foley
21:53 , Alex Pattle
Round 2
Foley looks to fight on the front foot. Catterall is using his jab so well, though.
He staggers Foley with a one-two now, then a cross! Heâs showing his superiority, his timing.
Catterall triples up his jab, catching Foley with the middle one. Good head movement from the Englishman to avoid Foleyâs offence, too.
Foley corners Catterall and misses with a desperate, lunging right hook.
Leigh Wood vs Mauricio Lara 2 LIVE: Jack Catterall vs Darragh Foley
21:47 , Alex Pattle
Round 1
Foley waits until the last possible moment to remove a bandana.
Both men stand southpaw. Catterall jabs to the body; Foley wings a left hook to the Englishmanâs midriff.
Catterall with a nice left hand now. Foley follows him around the ring.
Catterall sees a one-two blocked up top. Foley is starting to walk onto jabs, but he lands a couple of his own, too.
Leigh Wood vs Mauricio Lara 2 LIVE: Jack Catterall vs Darragh Foley
21:41 , Alex Pattle
Catterall looks very excited to be back!
Leigh Wood vs Mauricio Lara 2 LIVE: Jack Catterall vs Darragh Foley
21:39 , Alex Pattle
Irishman Foley crouches on the stage as his entrance music plays. He looks very focused.
Leigh Wood vs Mauricio Lara 2 LIVE: Jack Catterall vs Darragh Foley
21:37 , Alex Pattle
This is Catterallâs first fight since February 2022, when he suffered a controversial decision loss to undisputed champion Josh Taylor in the latterâs native Scotland.
Leigh Wood vs Mauricio Lara 2 LIVE: Jack Catterall vs Darragh Foley
21:33 , Alex Pattle
Next up is Jack Catterall vs Darragh Foley at super-lightweight!
The vacant WBA Intercontinental title is on the line in this one.
Leigh Wood vs Mauricio Lara 2 LIVE: Terri Harper vs Ivana Habazin
21:23 , Alex Pattle
Terri Harper def. Ivana Habazin via unanimous decision (98-92, 97-93, 97-93).
Harper retains the WBA super-welterweight title!
Leigh Wood vs Mauricio Lara 2 LIVE: Terri Harper vs Ivana Habazin
21:20 , Alex Pattle
Round 10
Final round! Habazin looks tired, but she keeps coming forward, throwing hooks up top.
The referee warns the pair to watch their heads, amid some serious fighting in close.
Into the final minute... Habazin burrows a right hook into the ribs of Harper.
Harper looks for some space, but Habazin closes range quickly.
Weâll go to the scorecards!
Leigh Wood vs Mauricio Lara 2 LIVE: Terri Harper vs Ivana Habazin
21:17 , Alex Pattle
Round 9
Penultimate round! The fighters trade heavy hooks and uppercuts in close, and thereâs a lot of leaning on each other... Thatâs the best round so far.
Leigh Wood vs Mauricio Lara 2 LIVE: Terri Harper vs Ivana Habazin
21:14 , Alex Pattle
Round 8
Harperâs corner are confident that sheâs winning the fight âcomfortablyâ. âYou donât need to do anything, youâre winning.â
Sharp jab by Harper. Habazin comes back with a left hook.
Harper blocks a right-hook effort from her opponent now. Habazin opts for an uppercut in a bid to split the Britonâs guard. Now the Croat targets the body.
Leigh Wood vs Mauricio Lara 2 LIVE: Terri Harper vs Ivana Habazin
21:11 , Alex Pattle
Round 7
Harper has been showing off the slicker fundamentals, but Habazin has arguably done the more effective work throughout.
Leigh Wood vs Mauricio Lara 2 LIVE: Terri Harper vs Ivana Habazin
21:08 , Alex Pattle
Round 6
Into the second half of this bout.
Again the fighters clinch, and again they get to work at close range.
Brutal left hook to the ribs by Habazin. Harper looks to stick behind the jab.
Leigh Wood vs Mauricio Lara 2 LIVE: Terri Harper vs Ivana Habazin
21:05 , Alex Pattle
Round 5
Harper gets on the front foot, but Habazin pushes her back with hooks to the body.
The fighters clinch, with Harper peppering her challenger with body shots in close.
They separate again, but not for long.
Leigh Wood vs Mauricio Lara 2 LIVE: Terri Harper vs Ivana Habazin
21:02 , Alex Pattle
Round 4
Harper with a short right cross. Habazin replies with hooks upstairs.
The women briefly clinch. The referee warns the fighters over punches behind the head.
After they separate, Habazin chases Harper around the ring.
Leigh Wood vs Mauricio Lara 2 LIVE: Terri Harper vs Ivana Habazin
20:59 , Alex Pattle
Round 3
Lots of grappling in this round. Habazin lands a decent right cross up top, then a hook to the body.
These two-minute rounds go by so quickly!
Leigh Wood vs Mauricio Lara 2 LIVE: Terri Harper vs Ivana Habazin
20:56 , Alex Pattle
Round 2
Habazin stumbles backwards after eating a flurry of hooks from Harper!
Habazin still has her wits about her, and she looks to fire back with a wild hook of her own.
Harper seems it coming from a mile off, though.
Leigh Wood vs Mauricio Lara 2 LIVE: Terri Harper vs Ivana Habazin
20:53 , Alex Pattle
Round 1
Both women stand orthodox. Theyâre content just to feel each other out in this opening round, with not too many punches being thrown early on.
Leigh Wood vs Mauricio Lara 2 LIVE: Terri Harper vs Ivana Habazin
20:49 , Alex Pattle
Next up, Terri Harper defends the WBA womenâs super-welterweight title against Ivana Habazin.
Havazin is stepping in for Cecilia Braekhus, who withdrew from her bout with Harper due to illness last week.
Harper and Braekhus were due to clash in Dublin, but the latterâs withdrawal saw Habazin step in as the fight was delayed by seven days.
Leigh Wood vs Mauricio Lara 2 LIVE: Aqib Fiaz vs Costin Ion
20:37 , Alex Pattle
Aqib Fiaz def. Costin Ion via decision (76-75).
Leigh Wood vs Mauricio Lara 2 LIVE: Aqib Fiaz vs Costin Ion
20:34 , Alex Pattle
Round 8
Final round! Fiaz looks to get behind his jab. Ion seems to catch him with a left hook.
Fiaz holds Ion now. The referee separates the fighters.
Forward comes Ion, who had the best spell of this fight but is surely still in need of a finish.
Ion with a good left hook to the body. Now one to the head.
Fiaz leans on his opponent to kill time. Both fighters land shots in close.
Weâll go to the judgesâ scorecards!
Leigh Wood vs Mauricio Lara 2 LIVE: Aqib Fiaz vs Costin Ion
20:29 , Alex Pattle
Round 7
Ion, as youâd expect, applies more pressure. Fiaz holds him and has him in a headlock.
They separate, and both men throw winging hooks. Fiaz lands with one of them! Ion reverses the position and backs up his opponent against the ropes, though.
The crowd is very much into this contest now.
Hard right overhand by Ion, but a composed Fiaz connects with a left hook.
Leigh Wood vs Mauricio Lara 2 LIVE: Aqib Fiaz vs Costin Ion
20:25 , Alex Pattle
Rounds 5, 6
More forward pressure from Ion, who continues to target the body of Fiaz with hooks, but he misses up top.
Fiaz times a left hook to the head well on the counter. More grappling now.
Ion is well out of range with a hook effort.
But he lands with the next shot, and he drops Fiaz! Fiaz beats the refereeâs count, but heâs on shaky legs...
Ion with a strong uppercut in close as he goes for the finish; Fiaz looks to hold... and he makes it to the bell!
Leigh Wood vs Mauricio Lara 2 LIVE: Aqib Fiaz vs Costin Ion
20:24 , Alex Pattle
Round 4
Fiaz skips to the centre of the ring. Ion is keen to put him on the back foot, though.
Now Fiaz is staggered slightly by a left hook! Good composure by him to stay on his feet.
A bit of holding ensues.
Leigh Wood vs Mauricio Lara 2 LIVE: Aqib Fiaz vs Costin Ion
20:14 , Alex Pattle
Round 3
Both men are orthodox, with Fiaz fighting out of a Philly shell and Ion keeping a high guard. Ion steps forward and lands two sharp jabs, before blocking Fiazâs own jab attempt.
Ion curves a right hook onto the belt line of Fiaz now, but heâs stumbled somewhat by a nice counter jab to the head.
Fiaz misses with a telegraphed right hook, and Ion punishes him with a well-timed jab.
Now Ion takes a knee after absorbing a hook behind the ear! Heâs okay to continue, and he gets right back to throwing punches.
Fiaz goes for the same hook that hurt Ion earlier in the round, but itâs not quite there.
Leigh Wood vs Mauricio Lara 2 LIVE: Aqib Fiaz vs Costin Ion
20:10 , Alex Pattle
Round 2
Apologies, some very brief technical difficulties during Round 1, but it was a good frame for Fiaz until the final 15 seconds, in which Ion put together some solid combinations and froze his opponent.
Clever head movement from Fiaz now to avoid some jabs by Ion. A left hook lands to the head of Ion, but he continues to press forward.
Leigh Wood vs Mauricio Lara 2 LIVE: Aqib Fiaz vs Costin Ion
20:03 , Alex Pattle
Here we go.
Leigh Wood vs Mauricio Lara 2 LIVE: Aqib Fiaz vs Costin Ion
19:59 , Alex Pattle
Up next is a super-featherweight bout between Aqib Fiaz and Costin Ion!
Leigh Wood vs Mauricio Lara 2 LIVE: Danny Ball vs Jamie Robinson
19:54 , Alex Pattle
Say hello to your new English Welterweight Champion, Danny Ball. đ#LaraWood2 is LIVE on https://t.co/FoiaUucI53 pic.twitter.com/if34KvEs4d
â DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) May 27, 2023
Leigh Wood vs Mauricio Lara 2 LIVE: Danny Ball vs Jamie Robinson
19:50 , Alex Pattle
Danny Ball def. Jamie Robinson via eighth-round TKO (3:00).
Ball claims the vacant English welterweight title!
Leigh Wood vs Mauricio Lara 2 LIVE: Danny Ball vs Jamie Robinson
19:49 , Alex Pattle
Itâs all over! Robinsonâs corner pull him from the fight between rounds!
Iâm not sure if heâs injured, but he was way behind on the cards and wasnât troubling Ball with his offence.
A sound call.
Leigh Wood vs Mauricio Lara 2 LIVE: Danny Ball vs Jamie Robinson
19:47 , Alex Pattle
Round 8
Into the final three rounds. Ball presses forward and unloads a right hook, then an uppercut.
Robinson unfurls hooks to the body of his taller opponent. Ball connects with a left hook upstairs.
A hard left hook again by Ball! Every time Robinson finds a bit of success, Ball fires back with more power and volume.
Leigh Wood vs Mauricio Lara 2 LIVE: Danny Ball vs Jamie Robinson
19:43 , Alex Pattle
Round 7
A lancing jab snaps back the head of Robinson, then another.
Ballâs shoelace comes undone, and he visits his corner to have it tied.
Back under way. Ball catches Robinson on the end of a right cross to the body then avoids a one-two up top.
Robinson with a clean jab now. Ball responds well and taunts his opponent.
Leigh Wood vs Mauricio Lara 2 LIVE: Danny Ball vs Jamie Robinson
19:39 , Alex Pattle
Round 6
Robinson gets out on the front foot, but Ballâs variety of offence with his left hand is troubling his opponent.
Robinson strings together a decent combination, but heâs tagged with a mean left hook to the head.
Good head movement from Ball now to evade Robinsonâs shots. Ball with a clean right hook to the ribs of Robinson, who keeps marching forward.
Leigh Wood vs Mauricio Lara 2 LIVE: Danny Ball vs Jamie Robinson
19:35 , Alex Pattle
Round 5
Ball just about lands a right hook but misses with an uppercut.
Now forward comes Robinson. Heâs shown plenty of courage and determination, but heâs being outlanded.
A left hook lands for Ball, who then complains that Robinsonâs reply was below the belt line.
Once more Robinsonâs mouthguard comes out, and again itâs put back in. The referee warns him that a point will be deducted if it happens again.
Hard left hook to the body from Ball; Robinson responds in kind, but only after eating a head shot.
Leigh Wood vs Mauricio Lara 2 LIVE: Danny Ball vs Jamie Robinson
19:31 , Alex Pattle
Round 4
Ball misses with a couple of slip, lead uppercuts. He sees one blocked, but Robinson will have felt that anyway.
Robinson slings a hook into the midriff of Ball, who replies with a solid combination, attacking the body and head.
Robinsonâs mouthguard comes out, and the referee pauses the action to pick it up, clean it and get it back in.
The round resumes with the fighters trading jabs.
Leigh Wood vs Mauricio Lara 2 LIVE: Danny Ball vs Jamie Robinson
19:26 , Alex Pattle
Round 3
Itâs no surprise that Robinson has been able to show heart here. The Briton is a survivor of testicular cancer, a real inspiration.
The slower pace from the end of Round 2 persists, with both boxers seemingly a little tired after a frantic spell following the knockdown of Robinson.
Good body shots from both welterweights now.
Leigh Wood vs Mauricio Lara 2 LIVE: Danny Ball vs Jamie Robinson
19:22 , Alex Pattle
Round 2
Ball curls a right hook around Robinsonâs guard, then drops his opponent with a left hook!
Robinson only takes a knee, and he beats the refereeâs count, but will Ball go for the finish here...?
Yes! Both men open up, landing clean shots, but itâs Ball who is rocking his opponent with heavy hooks!
Ball with an uppercut in close now, before the pair trade body shots. Great composure from Robinson given the circumstances.
The pace is starting to slow down, with both men having thrown a lot in this round.
Leigh Wood vs Mauricio Lara 2 LIVE: Danny Ball vs Jamie Robinson
19:18 , Alex Pattle
Round 1
Both men stand orthodox. Ball with a jab to the beltline; Robinson returns fire with a jab up top.
More jabs upstairs from Robinson, while Ball paws with a lead left hook. He tags Robinson with a quick one.
A couple of jabs get through for Ball now.
Leigh Wood vs Mauricio Lara 2 LIVE
19:15 , Alex Pattle
Here we go! Ten rounds scheduled.
Leigh Wood vs Mauricio Lara 2 LIVE
19:10 , Alex Pattle
The main card begins with a welterweight clash between Danny Ball and Jamie Robinson, with the vacant English title on the line!
Leigh Wood vs Mauricio Lara 2 LIVE
19:01 , Alex Pattle
The Wood vs Lara main card is about to get under way! Hereâs a recap of the preliminary results:
William Crolla def. Joe Hardy via decision
Aaron Bowen def. Aljaz Venko via decision
Campbell Hatton def. Michal Bulak via TKO
Leigh Wood vs Mauricio Lara 2 LIVE
18:53 , Alex Pattle
Wood vs Lara isnât the only world-title fight in the UK tonight!
At Vitality Stadium, home to Premier League club AFC Bournemouth, Chris Billam-Smith challenges Lawrence Okolie for the WBO cruiserweight title.
Billam-Smith, a Bournemouth fan, has long dreamt of fighting at his teamâs ground, and he finally gets his chance tonight. His bout with Okolie should be intriguing, given the Britons are former training partners.
Meanwhile, in Belfast, hometown fighter Michael Conlan challenges Luis Alberto Lopez for the IBF flyweight title.
How to watch Okolie vs Billam-Smith online and on TV tonight
Leigh Wood vs Mauricio Lara 2 LIVE
18:45 , Alex Pattle
Revisiting Wood vs Lara 1...
Here is what Woodâs coach, Ben Davison, had to say to his fighter in the moments after throwing in the towel:
Davison: âYou will get a rematch. Listen, youâve got a rematch. You were a bit too hurt.â
Wood: âI was alrightâ.
Davison: âTrust me. You were too hurt.â
More here:
Leigh Wood given message by trainer Ben Davison after controversial stoppage
Leigh Wood vs Mauricio Lara 2 LIVE
18:40 , Alex Pattle
Revisiting Wood vs Lara 1...
Here are Steve Bunceâs thoughts on the stoppage in the first fight:
âWood insisted he could continue and with just six seconds left before the bell to end the seventh round, that is an understandable boxerâs complaint. However, at the moment the referee told the pair to continue, Wood looked both vulnerable and static; Lara was poised, knowing one more punch would end the fight.
âWood did not show the awareness of a man with a grasp of his awful situation. There was no attempt to buy a few priceless seconds by moving backwards and trying to get his legs working again â he just looked trapped and hurt at the moment Davison threw the towel in.
âA decision in boxing can be both heartbreaking and correct. Sure, the official time of the stoppage was 2:54, but damage in the boxing ring can be measured in the tiniest fragments of a single second and at the point the fight was stopped, six seconds was an eternity.â
More here:
Controversial Leigh Wood stoppage was the right call
Leigh Wood vs Mauricio Lara 2 LIVE
18:35 , Alex Pattle
Revisiting Wood vs Lara 1...
Here is our on-the-bell report from Wood and Laraâs first clash, in February:
Leigh Wood suffers TKO loss to Mauricio Lara amid controversial finish in Nottingham
Leigh Wood vs Mauricio Lara 2 LIVE
18:25 , Alex Pattle
Tonightâs event will be streamed live on Dazn, a subscription to which is available at three different price points: Monthly Saver (ÂŁ9.99 per month, with a 12-month commitment), Flexible (ÂŁ19.99 per month, and can be cancelled at any time), and Annual Super Saver (ÂŁ99.99 as a one-off payment).
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How to watch Wood vs Lara online and on TV tonight
Leigh Wood vs Mauricio Lara 2 LIVE
18:20 , Alex Pattle
Tonightâs fight will take place at the AO Arena in Manchester.
The main card is set to begin at 7pm BST (11am PT, 1pm CT, 2pm ET), with ring walks for the main event expected at approximately 10pm BST (3pm PT, 5pm CT, 6pm ET).
What time does Wood vs Lara start in UK and US tonight?
Leigh Wood vs Mauricio Lara 2 LIVE
18:10 , Alex Pattle
Here is yesterdayâs big story around tonightâs fight:
âLeigh Wood will be fighting for the âvacantâ WBA featherweight title on Saturday, after opponent Mauricio Lara was effectively stripped of the belt for failing to make weight.
âLara took the title from Wood in February by stopping the Briton in Round 7, as the towel came in despite Wood beating the refereeâs count after a knockdown. The pair are set for a rematch on Saturday (27 May), but only Wood, 34, will be eligible to leave Manchester as champion.
âThat was the ruling after Lara came in nearly three pounds over the 126lbs featherweight limit at Fridayâs weigh-in. While Wood weighed 125.9lbs, Lara hit the scales at 129.8lbs, after the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBofC) refused to let the Mexican weigh less than 128.5lbs.
âThe BBBofC expressed concern after a mid-week check suggested that Lara, 25, would struggle to make weight âsafelyâ.â
More here, including what promoter Eddie Hearn and Woodâs trainer Ben Davison had to say:
Mauricio Lara stripped of title before Leigh Wood rematch amid weigh-in drama
Leigh Wood vs Mauricio Lara 2 LIVE
17:45 , Alex Pattle
Leigh Wood takes on Mauricio Lara in Manchester tonight, one day after the latter was stripped of the WBA featherweight title.
Lara took the belt from Wood in February, beating the Briton in his hometown of Nottingham with a seventh-round TKO. It proved a controversial finish, with Woodâs corner throwing in the towel with six seconds left in the round, despite their fighter beating the refereeâs count after a knockdown.
Wood and Lara are set to clash again this evening, though the Mexican was stripped of his title yesterday after failing to make the 126lbs limit. The British Boxing Board of Control prevented Lara, 25, from completing his weight-cut after expressing concern over his mid-week weight.
As such, only Wood, 34, will be eligible to win the vacant title this evening.