Nottingham Arena, Nottingham, UK. In the main event of the evening, the local WBA featherweight champion (up to 57.2 kg) Lee Wood (26-3, 16 KOs) lost the belt in a bright mahacha with the Mexican Mauricio Lara (26-2-1, 19 KOs).
Wood boxed in the classic way – from the jab. Lara rushed with his signature attacks, acted sweepingly. However, this is how it always looks. Good cross from the champion. There was a headbutt. Wood is already bleeding.
A cut in the first for the champion #WoodLara pic.twitter.com/Ol6FyDQBhd
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) February 18, 2023
The Mexican joined the fight only a minute before the end of the 2nd round. First, he punched the champion very hard on the body, then shook him with a combination of blows. Wood saved himself in the clinch. Cool fight! Lara turned on.
MASSIVE end to the second for Lara #WoodLara pic.twitter.com/U2mxuGtnUT
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) February 18, 2023
The champion had a great 3rd three-minute period. He boxed in a collected and disciplined manner, countered on the approach of the aggressor, constantly disturbed him with a jab and a straight right. Lara in pure boxing is a pretty mediocre fighter. But in a fight at a medium distance, he is just a monster: an incredible handle, very heavy fists.
Four rounds in and WHAT A FIGHT #WoodLara pic.twitter.com/vQykFNmQpZ
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) February 18, 2023
Wood agreed to trades a little more often in the 5th round. He is still more successful and more accurate, but now he takes a lot more risks. The champion began to work as the first number, to push the opponent. Lara responds with rare attacks, kneading the air with her fists. The applicant does almost nothing. He is nervous.
We have drama! The fight was dictated by Wood, but in the 7th round he suddenly missed a left hook and was heavily knocked down. The champion rose to his feet not without problems. There were 10 seconds left before the gong. And then the British coach threw in the towel. What a twist!
In comes the towel after a big knockdown at the end of the seventh…
Mauricio Lara is the new WBA World Featherweight Champion #WoodLara | @DAZNBoxing pic.twitter.com/wmDYjntXBt
— Matchroom Boxing (@MatchroomBoxing) February 18, 2023
We have a new world champion!
Lara TKO 7.
In the co-main event of the show, local top welterweight prospect (up to 63.5 kg) Dalton Smith (14-0, 10 KOs) beat his compatriot
Billy Allington (10-2-4, 0 KOs) and defended the title of champion of Great Britain according to the BBC.
The fight got off to a boring start. The fighters circled the ring for half a minute without throwing punches. Then it wasn’t much more fun – a minimum of aggravations, as both tried to counter each other’s jabs, often clinched, fouled a lot.
In the 8th round, Smith caught Allington on the way out of the clinch – he dropped it with a left hook.
The power shows as this time @daltonsmith08 knock down the challenger #WoodLaralive on https://t.co/FoiaUucI53 pic.twitter.com/eiT93oTd96
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) February 18, 2023
Failed to achieve. Underdog finally switched to survival mode – he ran and clinched. The favorite was tired of this – he lifted the opponent and threw him on the canvas of the ring. Believe it or not, the referee did not fine Smith for this. Tin…
Oh my @daltonsmith08 picks up Allington above his head and throws him down #WoodLara pic.twitter.com/X4ePehhMQ2
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) February 18, 2023
The fight went all the way. Judges score: 120-107 and twice 119-108. Just awful. Why all the hype?
Smith UD 12.