Wood vs Lara LIVE! Boxing fight stream, TV channel, latest updates and undercard results
British boxing star Leigh Wood defends his WBA featherweight title against Mauricio Lara tonight in Nottingham. It’s another home fight for the 34-year-old but he’s up against a tremendously tough contender against the Mexican.
Lara is the favorite to take another belt from a home British fighter after beating Josh Warrington last year and meets Wood, who has not fought in almost 12 months. The first fight was scheduled for September only for Wood to pull out through injury.
There’s also plenty of flashy action on the undercard as Dalton Smith defends his British super lightweight belt, Olympian Cheavon Clarke tries to make it a perfect five, Gamal Yafai will look to make amends after losing to Jason Cunningham last year, while Kieron Conway is back in England after the last defeat in America. The undercard starts at 7 p.m. Follow Wood vs. Lara live below!
live updates
Clarke vs. Duffus
Next up is Cheavon Clarke versus Israel Duffus.
Former Gravesend Olympian Clarke was originally scheduled to fight Dec Spelman but the former England light heavyweight champion was forced to retire from the sport after failing a brain scan.
Clarke will now take his unbeaten 4-0 record to take on Duffus who is 20-8.
Ruiz dons an Argentinian jersey to celebrate, and why not.
Decision between Yafai and Ruiz
Diego Alberto Ruiz def. Gamal Yafai by unanimous decision (98-89, 97-90, 97-91)
Yafai vs. Ruiz
Yafai hits the deck as Ruiz connects with a fine left hook. Again the Brummie beats the clock, he’s just a standing target for the last 90 seconds or so when Ruiz picks him up again.
I’m stunned that Yafai makes the last bell but he does! By my count he won two rounds out of 10, what do the judges think?
Yafai vs. Ruiz
More courage from Yafai in what is now clearly and literally a losing battle. Heeding his corner’s advice, he starts to move his head and Ruiz struggles to land a meaningful punch for the first time in the fight.
In the tenth…
Yafai vs. Ruiz
Yafai has been second best the whole time but he’s not half trying as we enter the final two rounds, going hard in the body but being clocked with the right hand on the bell.
Yafai’s corner is furious with him and threatens to throw in the towel if he doesn’t start moving his head.
Yafai vs. Ruiz
After a few rounds of hope for Yafai, Ruiz has regained control of the fight. He tracks his opponent in a calculated manner, just waits for Yafai to attack, and then just takes them down.
Yafai looks all the more tired now.
It starts in round eight…
Yafai vs. Ruiz
It was an impressive comeback from Yafai in the fourth and fifth rounds. Ruiz slacks off as we start the sixth and Yafai’s corner tells him he needs to keep improving to have any chance of scoring a point.
Yafai vs Ruiz
Yafai hit the canvas twice in the first three rounds of this 10-round contest.
The lettering already appears on the wall for the man from Birmingham.
This is a super bantamweight fight. Diego Ruiz is looking to win his first fifth fight after suffering two defeats last year.