Leigh Wood vs Mauricio Lara
{{Short description|Professional boxing match}}
{{Infobox Boxingmatch
|fight date=18 February 2023
|Fight Name=Leigh Wood vs Mauricio Lara
|image=220px
|location=Motorpoint Arena, Nottingham, England
|titles=WBA featherweight title
|fighter1=Leigh Wood
|nickname1=Leigh-thal
|record1=26–2 (16 KOs)
|hometown1=Gedling, England
|height1={{height|ft=5|in=7}}{{Cite web |title=BoxRec: Leigh Wood |url=https://boxrec.com/en/proboxer/582091 |access-date=5 April 2023 |website=BoxRec}}
|weight1=
|style1=Orthodox
|recognition1=WBA featherweight champion
|fighter2=Mauricio Lara
|nickname2=Bronco
|record2=26–2–1 (19 KOs)
|hometown2=Mexico City, Mexico
|height2={{height|ft=5|in=7}}{{Cite web |title=BoxRec: Mauricio Lara |url=https://boxrec.com/en/box-pro/783107 |access-date=5 April 2023 |website=BoxRec}}
|weight2=
|style2=Orthodox
|recognition2=
|result=Lara defeated Wood via round 7 TKO.{{Cite web |last=Sky News |date=18 February 2023 |title=Leigh Wood loses WBA featherweight title in KO defeat to Mauricio Lara in Nottingham |url=https://www.skysports.com/boxing/news/12040/12814778/leigh-wood-loses-featherweight-crown-with-loss-to-mauricio-lara-in-nottingham |website=Sky News}}
}}
Leigh Wood vs Mauricio Lara (billed as “Dance with the Devil”) was a featherweight professional boxing match contested between WBA featherweight champion Leigh Wood and Mauricio Lara. The bout took place on 18 February 2023 at the Motorpoint Arena in Nottingham, England.{{Cite web |last=Coppinger |first=Mike |date=9 January 2023 |title=Leigh Wood to defend WBA title vs. Mauricio Lara in February |url=https://www.espn.co.uk/boxing/story/_/id/35413422/leigh-wood-defend-wba-title-vs-mauricio-lara-february |website=ESPN}} Lara defeated Wood via technical knockout in the 7th round.{{Cite web |last=Brookhouse |first=Brent |date=18 February 2023 |title=Leigh Wood vs. Mauricio Lara fight results, highlights: Mexican challenger earns featherweight title with TKO |url=https://www.cbssports.com/boxing/news/leigh-wood-vs-mauricio-lara-fight-results-highlights-mexican-challenger-earns-featherweight-title-with-tko/ |website=CBS News}}
Background
On 24 August 2022 was announced that Leigh Wood would make his second WBA (Regular) title defence against Mexican professional boxer Mauricio Lara at the Motorpoint Arena in Nottingham, England on 24 September 2022.{{Cite web |last=Random Hits |date=24 August 2022 |title=Leigh Wood vs. Mauricio Lara Tops DAZN Tripleheader on September 24 |url=https://www.boxingscene.com/leigh-wood-vs-mauricio-lara-tops-dazn-tripleheader-on-september-24--168580 |access-date= |website=BoxingScene |language=}} However Wood withdrew from the fight ten days before it was supposed to take place, due to a torn biceps suffered in sparring.{{Cite web |last=Random Hits |date=13 September 2022 |title=Leigh Wood (Biceps) Injured, Lara Fight Postponed; Galahad-Hughes Elevated To Sept. 24 Main Event |url=https://www.boxingscene.com/leigh-wood-biceps-injured-lara-fight-postponed-galahad-hughes-elevated-sept-24-main-event--169027 |access-date= |website=BoxingScene |language=}}
The bout was rescheduled for 18 February 2023 at the Motorpoint Arena in Nottingham, England.
Fight card
| class="toccolours" style="font-size: 85%;"
! style="background:#e6e8fa; color:#000; text-align:center;" |Weight class ! style="background:#e6e8fa; color:#000; text-align:center;" | ! style="background:#e6e8fa; color:#000; text-align:center;" |vs ! style="background:#e6e8fa; color:#000; text-align:center;" | ! style="background:#e6e8fa; color:#000; text-align:center;" |Method ! style="background:#e6e8fa; color:#000; text-align:center;" |Round ! style="background:#e6e8fa; color:#000; text-align:center;" |Time ! style="background:#e6e8fa; color:#000; text-align:center;" |Notes |
| colspan="8" style="background-color: #ccccff;" | Main Card |
|---|
| Featherweight
|def. |Leigh Wood (c) | align="center" |TKO | align="center" |7/12 |2:54 |{{Ref|KSI vs Fournier|Note 1}} |
| Super lightweight
|Dalton Smith (c) |def. |Billy Allington | align="center" |UD | align="center" |12 | |{{Ref|Smith vs Allington|Note 2}} |
| Lightweight
|def. |Wilfredo Flores | align="center" |TKO | align="center" |2/10 |1:52 |{{Ref|Cully vs Flores|Note 3}} |
| Cruiserweight
|def. |Israel Duffus | align="center" |UD | align="center" |10 | | |
| Super bantamweight
|Diego Alberto Ruiz |def. | align="center" |{{abbr|UD|Unanimous decision}} | align="center" |10 | | |
| colspan="8" style="background-color: #ccccff;" |Preliminary Card |
| Super middleweight
|def. |Mathieu Gomes | align="center" |{{abbr|KO|Knockout}} | align="center" |1/6 |1:35 |{{Ref|Bowen vs Gomes|Note 4}} |
| Super welterweight
|def. |Peter Kramer | align="center" |{{abbr|TKO|Technical knockout}} | align="center" |7/8 |1:30 | |
| Super middleweight
|def. |Jorge Silva | align="center" |PTS | align="center" |8 | | |
| Super lightweight
|def. |Shaun Cooper | align="center" |{{abbr|PTS|Points decision}} | align="center" |6 | | |
{{note|KSI vs Fournier|Note 1|For WBA featherweight title}}
{{note|Smith vs Allington|Note 2|For British super-lightweight title}}
{{note|Cully vs Flores|Note 3|For vacant WBA Inter-Continental lightweight title}}
{{note|Bowen vs Gomes|Note 4|Bowen's professional debut}}
Rematch
During the Anthony Joshua vs Jermaine Franklin broadcast, Eddie Hearn, Mauricio Lara and Leigh Wood appeared in the ring to announce the rematch which took place on 27 May at the AO Arena in Manchester, England.{{Cite web |last=Gray |first=Tom |date=4 April 2023 |title=Mauricio Lara vs Leigh Wood 2 date, start time, odds, card for 2023 boxing fight |url=https://www.sportingnews.com/us/boxing/news/mauricio-lara-vs-leigh-wood-2-date-start-time-odds-card/flmk6ac78lct3eslcqknkcnm |website=The Sporting News}}