WoodLara – BOXINGWRITER.CO.UK

Post first appeared on Bookmakers.com

Nottingham’s Leigh Wood, 26-2 (16ko), will attempt to defend his WBA Featherweight title on Saturday night against dangerous Mexican Mauricio Lara, 25-2-1 (18ko), in a bout initially scheduled for the Autumn of last year. Billed as ‘Dance with the Devil’, to reflect the danger Lara represents, this will be Wood’s second fight as belt holder following an upset victory over Can Xu in 2021 to win the Interim championship and a thunderous, rousing knockout of Ireland’s Michael Conlon, again as the underdog, in the British fight of 2022.

And arguably the toughest assignment available in the division.

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Article first appeared on BigFightWeekend.com

Two days ago, late night idling, I tuned in to a Twitter Space devoted to boxing. A handful of speakers and even fewer listeners. Some proclaimed a professional association to the sport, others merely lay opportunists, sharing profanity laden ‘shock jock’ opinions. It was an interesting medley. My visit lasted about the time it takes to endure a 40-36 show opener.

Extraordinary among this mundanity was the disdain shown for almost every fighter discussed. Listeners to the space may be surprised to learn just how many “bums” currently hold world title belts. I know I was. Among them, the panel suggested, was Leigh Wood, the Featherweight from Nottingham who was last seen knocking out Michael Conlon to secure the WBA belt.

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