Advertisement

Leigh Wood vs Mauricio Lara LIVE: Result as Briton regains title with points win

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 – more on those results below.

Click here to subscribe to The Independent’s Sport YouTube channel for all the latest sports videos.

Leigh Wood vs Mauricio Lara 2

Leigh Wood vs Mauricio Lara 2 LIVE

00:14 , Alex Pattle

Leigh Wood’s world-title redemption was not the only story of the night!

Elsewhere, Bournemouth’s 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 “Leigh-thal”!

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 that’s 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 he’s 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 he’s 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... he’s 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 Wood’s 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!

Wood’s 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 – 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 – the shot that dropped him in the first fight – but falls after a push...

The crowd got a little excited there, but it wasn’t a knockdown by Wood. Lara is back up, and he’s 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 he’s put down by an uppercut!!!

He’s still got his wits about him as he beats the referee’s count, but that’s 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 Wood’s hometown of Nottingham like the first clash, the crowd sings: “Leigh Wood, he’s one of our own.”

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 he’s 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 Briton’s loss to Lara in February was the third defeat of his professional career.

“Leigh-thal” 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

“Sweet Caroline” has come and gone at Manchester’s AO Arena...

It’s 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 latter’s coach Ben Davison threw in the towel – despite his fighter beating the referee’s counter after a knockdown.

Some suggested that Davison acted prematurely. Here’s 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, it’s 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 referee’s 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 referee’s 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. We’ll 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 it’s just frustration.

Catterall picks his moment with a lovely uppercut. There’s 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.

Foley’s face is getting redder by the round, as he continues to be punished by Catterall’s jab.

Leigh Wood vs Mauricio Lara 2 LIVE: Jack Catterall vs Darragh Foley

21:57 , Alex Pattle

The advice from Catterall’s corner is not to get drawn into a brawl. He’s doing a good job at avoiding that so far.

Catterall’s jab is landing at a 57 percent success rate, while Foley’s 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 can’t 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! He’s showing his superiority, his timing.

Catterall triples up his jab, catching Foley with the middle one. Good head movement from the Englishman to avoid Foley’s 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 Englishman’s 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 Catterall’s first fight since February 2022, when he suffered a controversial decision loss to undisputed champion Josh Taylor in the latter’s 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.

We’ll 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 there’s a lot of leaning on each other... That’s the best round so far.

Leigh Wood vs Mauricio Lara 2 LIVE: Terri Harper vs Ivana Habazin

21:14 , Alex Pattle

Round 8

Harper’s corner are confident that she’s winning the fight “comfortably”. “You don’t need to do anything, you’re winning.”

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 Briton’s 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. They’re 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 women’s 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 latter’s 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.

We’ll go to the judges’ scorecards!

Leigh Wood vs Mauricio Lara 2 LIVE: Aqib Fiaz vs Costin Ion

20:29 , Alex Pattle

Round 7

Ion, as you’d 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 referee’s count, but he’s 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 Fiaz’s own jab attempt.

Ion curves a right hook onto the belt line of Fiaz now, but he’s 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! He’s 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 it’s 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

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

It’s all over! Robinson’s corner pull him from the fight between rounds!

I’m not sure if he’s injured, but he was way behind on the cards and wasn’t 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.

Ball’s 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 Ball’s variety of offence with his left hand is troubling his opponent.

Robinson strings together a decent combination, but he’s tagged with a mean left hook to the head.

Good head movement from Ball now to evade Robinson’s 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. He’s shown plenty of courage and determination, but he’s being outlanded.

A left hook lands for Ball, who then complains that Robinson’s reply was below the belt line.

Once more Robinson’s mouthguard comes out, and again it’s 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.

Robinson’s 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

It’s 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 Robinson’s guard, then drops his opponent with a left hook!

Robinson only takes a knee, and he beats the referee’s count, but will Ball go for the finish here...?

Yes! Both men open up, landing clean shots, but it’s 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! Here’s 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 isn’t 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 team’s 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 Wood’s coach, Ben Davison, had to say to his fighter in the moments after throwing in the towel:

Davison: “You will get a rematch. Listen, you’ve got a rematch. You were a bit too hurt.”

Wood: “I was alright”.

Davison: “Trust me. You were too hurt.”

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 Bunce’s thoughts on the stoppage in the first fight:

“Wood insisted he could continue and with just six seconds left before the bell to end the seventh round, that is an understandable boxer’s 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.

“Wood 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 – he just looked trapped and hurt at the moment Davison threw the towel in.

“A 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.”

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 Lara’s 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

Tonight’s event will be streamed live on Dazn, a subscription to which is available at three different price points: Monthly Saver (£9.99 per month, with a 12-month commitment), Flexible (£19.99 per month, and can be cancelled at any time), and Annual Super Saver (£99.99 as a one-off payment).

(We may earn commission from some of the links in this article, but we never allow this to influence our content. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.)

How to watch Wood vs Lara online and on TV tonight

Leigh Wood vs Mauricio Lara 2 LIVE

18:20 , Alex Pattle

Tonight’s 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 yesterday’s big story around tonight’s fight:

Leigh Wood will be fighting for the ‘vacant’ WBA featherweight title on Saturday, after opponent Mauricio Lara was effectively stripped of the belt for failing to make weight.

“Lara took the title from Wood in February by stopping the Briton in Round 7, as the towel came in despite Wood beating the referee’s 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.

“That was the ruling after Lara came in nearly three pounds over the 126lbs featherweight limit at Friday’s 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.

“The BBBofC expressed concern after a mid-week check suggested that Lara, 25, would struggle to make weight ‘safely’.”

More here, including what promoter Eddie Hearn and Wood’s 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 Wood’s corner throwing in the towel with six seconds left in the round, despite their fighter beating the referee’s 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.

 (Action Images via Reuters)
(Action Images via Reuters)