By Jake Tiernan: Former WBA featherweight champion Leigh Wood will be taking a dangerous immediate rematch with Mauricio Lara tonight at the AO Arena in Manchester, England, live on DAZN.
The Lara vs. Wood rematch was announced for the UK once again. Wood (26-3, 16 KOs) didn’t have to take this fight, as it was his option after being dethroned by Lara by a seventh round knockout earlier this year on February 18th in Nottingham, England.
Lara (26-2-1, 19 KOs) was ready to move on and defend his newly won WBA 126-lb title against Josh Warrington in a trilogy match, but Wood chose to use his rematch clause to try and avenge his knockout loss.
Maurico Lara vs. Leigh Wood II Start Time
- Date : Saturday, May 27
- Time : 7 p.m. GMT / 2 p.m. ET
- Main event ringwalks (approx): 10:00 p.m. GMT / 5:00 p.m. ET
- The fight will take place at the AO Arena in Manchester, England
- The event is set to get underway at 7 p.m. GMT / 2 p.m. ET with the main event ringwalks scheduled for 10:00 p.m. GMT / 5:00 p.m. ET.
- The card will stream live on DAZN in over 200 countries across the globe
Wood, 34, might be thinking that he was doing well against Lara through five rounds last February and appeared to be on his way to a victory when he ran into trouble in the seventh round and was knocked down.
Leigh’s trainer surprisingly pulled him out of the fight after he’d been knockdown, even though he looked fine. We’ll never know for sure whether Wood could have come back from the knockdown.
Wood will be fighting smart, trying to avoid getting caught in exchanges with the powerful Lara. If Wood can stay composed and not get caught in a war, he’s got a chance of winning. Like last time, Wood will have the home country advantage over Lara.
“Many things have changed since I became a world champion, but the hunger I have to continue to be a world champion is still very big,” said Mauricio Lara to Matchroom Boxing.
“Yes, that’s what I imagine. I’m hoping for a knockout. That’s what I’m working on, and that’s what the fight is going to be about,” Lara continued about his rematch with the 34-year-old Leigh Wood.
“At the moment, we’re focusing on Wood. That’s what we want to focus on. I’m very committed to this fight. Yes, I do want to fight him,” said Lara when asked if he wants the trilogy clash against Josh Warrington if he successfully defeats Wood in their rematch on May 27th.
“As you know, it’s something personal, and I want to destroy him. I promise I’m going to fight as a champion, and I’m not going to be so complacent. It’s going to be a great show in Manchester on May 27.
“First of all, I want to apologize to a lot of my fans in the UK about what happened in the first fight.
“Things just happened, we talked, and Wood is doing okay, and it’s going to be a great show. I hope the people in Manchester are going to be lit because it’s going to be a great show.
“We have been doing many changes. We know it’s going to be a great show, and he’s a very good fighter. You’re going to see a new Bronco and a stronger Bronco,” said Lara.
“Not really. He’s a very strong fighter, and he just gives it his all when he’s fighting, and he showed it. We knew that it was going to happen sooner or later, but it’s happening sooner,” said Lara when asked if he was surprised that Wood chose to take the rematch right away.
“As I say, real fear is living in my neighborhood. That’s just my saying, but as I said, this is my second home, and I feel very welcome here. I feel very warm for me here,” said Lara about fighting in the UK.
“I’m not going to hide. I didn’t hide before I was a champion, and I’m not going to hide now as a champion,” said Lara.
LARA VS. WOOD 2 FIGHT CARD
- Mauricio Lara vs. Leigh Wood 2; For Lara’s WBA world featherweight title
- Jack Catterall vs. Darragh Foley
- Terri Harper vs. Ivana Habazin for WBA women’s super-welterweight title
- Danny Ball vs. Jamie Robinson for English welterweight title
- Aqib Fiaz vs. Costin Ion
- Campbell Hatton vs. Michal Bulak