By Ken Hissner: At Nottingham Arena, Nottingham, UK, Saturday over DAZN Eddie Hearn (Matchroom Boxing) presented in the Main Event WBA World Featherweight champion Leigh ‘Leigh-thal’ Wood being upset by stoppage well ahead into the seventh round by Mauricio “Bronco” Lara. In the co-feature Event British Super Lightweight champ Dalton “Thunder” Smith defeated English champ Billy Allington scoring a knockdown other wise 12 lack luster rounds.
In the Main Event WBA Feather World champ Leigh ‘Leigh-thal’ Wood, 26-3 (16), #126, of Gedling, Nottinghamshire, UK, was stopped by Mauricio “Bronco” Lara, 26-2-1 (19), #126, of Mexico City, MEX, at 2:54 of the seventh round of a scheduled 12 rounds.
Lara, 14-0-1, in his last 15 fights making his third appearance in the UK defeating Josh Warrington and a technical draw in 2021. With half a minute remaining in the second round Lara rocked Wood with a right on the head causing a cut on the left eyebrow of Wood. In the third round with blood coming down the left side of his face Wood rocked Lara with a pair of rights to the chin halfway through the round.
Thirty seconds into the fourth round Lara rocked Wood with a right drawing blood from the nose of Wood. Halfway through the round Wood rocked Lara with a right on the chin. In the fifth round the action continued with the blood flowing again from Wood’s cut but getting the best of the action. In the sixth round after one minute Wood rocked Lara with a right on the chin easily taking the round
In the seventh round with twenty seconds remaining both fighters throwing left hooks Lara landed and dropped Wood with a left hook on the chin for an 8-count from referee Michael Alexander. On shaky legs rising Lara started throwing punches and suddenly the corner of Woods threw in the towel and Woods was not pleased but with just 12 seconds left in the round it seemed premature with Wood winning all but one of the six rounds.
In the co-feature British Super Light champ Dalton “Thunder” Smith, 14-0 (10), #139, of Sheffield, UK, defeated English Super Light champ Billy Allington, 10-2-4 (0), #139, of Egham, Surrey, UK, over 12 lackluster rounds, scoring one knockdown.
In the first three rounds there was hardly a solid punch landed. In the fourth rounds final minute Smith landed a right on the chin rocking Allington. In the fifth round the Referee Kieran McCann finally warned Smith for dirty tactics.
In the seventh rounds first thirty seconds a left from Smith on the chin dropped Allington for an 8-count from referee McCann but he failed to follow-up.
Half a minute into the tenth round Smith tossed Allington to the canvas and got nothing but a warning from referee McCann. Halfway through the round Allington landed a right causing a cut on the left eyebrow of Smith. In the twelfth and final round Allington managed to survive running around with Smith unable to cut off the ring ending twelve rounds of little action. “Super” Sam Maxwell at ringside must be quite pleased with what he saw. Their fight in May might be delayed due to the cut Smith suffered.
Scores were 120-107, 119-108 twice same as did this writer.
Southpaw WBO Euro champ Gary ‘The Diva’ Cully, 16-0 (10), #134, of Naas, IRE, impressed in stopping WBA Fedecentro champ Wilfredo “El Bravo Vega” Flores, 10-1-1 (5), #134, of Ponce, PR, and Dunkirk, NY, at 1:52 of the second round of a scheduled 10 rounds for the vacant WBA Inter-Continental lightweight title.
In the first rounds halfway point the 6:02” taller Cully landed a left on Flores’ right eyebrow opening a cut. In the second round a lead left from Cully on the chin and down went Flores for an 8-count from Referee Howard Foster. Flores got up on unsteady legs as Cully jumped all over him dropping him again as the referee called a halt.
2008 Olympian Super Bantam Gamal ‘The Beast’ Yafai, 19-3 (11), #124, of Birmingham, UK, was upset losing to Diego “El Profeta” Ruiz, 24-6-1 (12), #123, of Las Talitas, Tucuman, ARG, scoring 3 knockdowns over 10 rounds.
In the first round Yafai was the aggressor working the body of the running Ruiz who turned southpaw in the final minute. In the second round Ruiz dropped Yafai with a looping left from southpaw on the head of Yafai followed by a right for an 8-count from Referee Kieran McCann. He recovered well enough to get to the end of the round. In the final seconds a overhand right from Ruiz on the head dropped Yafai for an 8-count.
In the fourth and fifth rounds Yafai recovered from the knockdowns and kept coming forward mixing it up being warned for low punches while Ruiz countered to the head in return. In the sixth and seventh rounds Ruiz out landed the oncoming Yafai. It’s the fifth time in the UK for Ruiz looking for his first win. In the eighth round Yafai was doing well until the final punch taking a right on the chin getting his attention.
In the ninth round Ruiz warned for a low blow but outworked Yafai throughout the round. In the tenth and final round after a minute a left hook from Ruiz on the chin and down went Yafai for the third time in the fight. In the final thirty seconds Yafai continued to hold to get to the final bell.
Scores were 98-89, 97-90 and 97-91 and writer 97-90.
2021 Olympian Cruiserweight Cheavon “C4” Clarke, 5-0 (4), #199, of Jamaica and Gravesend, Kent, UK, defeated Israel Duffus, 20-9 (17), #197, of San Miguelito, PAN, and L.A., CA, scoring 4 knockdowns over 10 rounds.
In the first two rounds late sub former light heavy inactive for a year Duffus outworked Clarke. In the third round a Clarke right uppercut a minute into the round on the chin rocked Duffus and again in the final minute. In the fifth rounds final seconds a Clarke right on the chin almost dropped Duffus.
Seconds into the sixth round a right from Clarke dropped Duffus for an 8-count from Referee Kevin Parker. Duffus managed to get through the round. In the seventh round Duffus out boxed Clarke until the final seconds when he got dropped by Clarke for an 8-count.
In the eighth round Duffus boxed well until getting hit in the final minute with a right on the chin from Clarke. In the ninth round Duffus going southpaw kept the jab in Clarke’s face the entire round. In the tenth and final round Duffus continued landing the jab in the face of Clarke until the final seconds when a right from Clarke on the chin dropped Duffus for an 8-count as the bell sounded.
Scores were 98-88 twice and 98-90 with writer 97-90.
Former Brtitish Super lightweight champ “Super” Sam Maxwell, 17-1 (11), #144, of Liverpool, UK, defeated Shaun ‘Scorpion” Cooper, 13-5 (0), #143, of Whitehall, UK, over 6 rounds. This was a warm-up for Maxwell awaiting to meet Smith if he wins in the co-feature.
Ring Announcer David Diamante
