Ecstasy and Heartbreak: Leigh Wood appeared on his way to victory, yet Mauricio Lara had other ideas

THE STORY of the battle was easy from the second it was introduced: Could Leigh Wood keep away from getting knocked out by Mauricio Lara?

Wood survived till in regards to the closing 20 seconds of spherical seven, when he was caught clear with a phenomenal left hook.

Wood was out chilly when he was dropped and got here again when his head hit the canvas. The punch was good, a brief left hook thrown for the time being Wood tried the identical shot. Wood’s excessive proper hand guard was in place, however the punch slipped in entrance of the glove and landed within the sweetest of heartbreaking spots.

He moved at about three, began to stand up and regained his ft on the rely of seven or eight. He had 12,000 folks prepared him to stand, battle and win. It was not sufficient on the evening.

He was stiff-legged as he nodded at Mike Alexander’s questions. The referee watched as Wood held his fingers up, however that may be a reflex and he nonetheless appeared unstable. Lara, in the meantime, was not off in a distant nook, he was not staring down at his personal nook for recommendation – Lara knew precisely what to do to make his dream come true: assault, it was easy, and he edged nearer. Wood, it should be stated, did nothing at that time to delay the delay; he by no means went for a stroll that might have gained him beneficial seconds, he by no means spat out his protect, he by no means even tried to transfer from the place the place he was standing. Wood was closely susceptible and at that second he was a helpless goal.

The battle froze and for a second, which lasted loads longer, there was a second when every thing stood nonetheless. Lara poised, Alexander poised, Wood determined, the group up, the ringside devoted staring in hope and then in that second, Ben Davison climbed up the steps and launched a white towel of give up on the referee. The battle was over.

Davison advised me within the ring, simply minutes after the battle’s finish, that he had no concept how lengthy was left within the spherical when he threw within the towel. There was, formally, solely six seconds, but it surely was most likely extra like 9 when he chucked the blood-stained towel. It was dramatic. Some booed, some cheered, most simply appeared on in amazement. Wood was in entrance, in management and joyful, however that modified when Lara linked.

It was extremely tense and a privilege to witness simply six ft from the sting of the canvas. Lara is even scarier at that vary and from that place and all of Wood’s work was much more spectacular. He used his ft, a excessive guard, his motion and picked his way to a powerful lead. The focus from Wood was distinctive; he knew the left hook had to be taken away from Lara and for six rounds and about 160 seconds, he managed to do it. And he did it in model.

The battle was not fought at a ridiculously quick tempo, however the rounds zipped away. The opener was cagey from each, Wood assured and trying to land his personal proper hand if Lara missed with sweeping left hooks. It was the champion’s spherical. However, within the closing seconds, Lara’s head opened a reduce above Wood’s left eye. It was unhealthy sufficient to stream for the the rest of the battle.

Wood was hit and shocked on the finish of the second and went again to his nook harm. In the third, Wood put collectively a succession of fine, straight rights – a easy punch in opposition to a person lacking with a left hook. Wood regained management, and a sample was set. Lara was nonetheless laughing on the finish of the spherical, He may smile, however he was 2-1 down. Lara does lots of smiling.

Wood took an important proper and left within the fourth, got here again with his personal proper and on the finish of the spherical, Lara was respiratory with his mouth open; Barry Jones, subsequent to me on BBC Five Live responsibility, puzzled if Lara had injured his jaw.  The reduce, by the way, stayed closed for many of the rounds and solely began to run within the closing minute or so. In the nook, Jumbo Johnson, who was on responsibility with magic swabs, was working his craft, protecting Wood within the battle.

In the fifth, Lara began to look somewhat misplaced, began to seem like he was feeling sorry for himself. He had complained many instances about Wood hitting him low. Wood began the sixth by rallying his devoted and then he gained the spherical in model. Lara simply couldn’t land the left hook. I made a word on my sheet: ‘Wood got greedy’. He did and that was at all times going to be an issue.

Leigh Wood is likely one of the most old style old-school fighters. He has had only a few breaks. We all know he has been the underdog – he was once more in opposition to Lara – and he has gained battle after battle. He provides his coronary heart; he’s simple to learn and not possible to dislike. I feared for him earlier than the battle, however by the bell to begin spherical seven, I really believed that he would win. No after timing from me, sorry.

In the seventh and closing spherical, Lara complained once more, Wood appeared comfy and massive and robust and then he relaxed for a fraction of a second. The battle was over, Lara pounced with the left hook.

Wood was sad with Davison. Lara challenged Josh Warrington at ringside, insulting him and spitting at his ft. In the ring, Eddie Hearn confirmed the rematch clause. Warrington additionally needs Lara for a trilogy battle. There was a debate over Davison’s use of the towel and, surprisingly, either side have been prepared to hear to the other facet. “It should never have been stopped, but I understand why,” Carl Froch advised me. Many at ringside have been as dazed as Wood on the sudden finish and that’s at all times an indication of a really nice battle. Wood later agreed with Davison’s determination and praised him.

There was a degree the place each the winner and the loser have been in tears, within the arms of the boys that look after them. It was uncooked on the finish – uncooked and actually unforgettable. Lara had a world title, one thing that appeared like an not possible dream two or so years in the past. They will each be again, possibly collectively and possibly not.

“This fight,” Hearn advised me, “is a reminder of just how good our sport is when it is done well.” It was additionally a brutal reminder of simply how merciless it may be.

THE VERDICT: A perfectly matched contest delivers in each way.