By: Sean Crose
As they are saying, all it takes is a single punch. Defending WBA world featherweight champion Leigh Wood was cruising to a victory on the Motorpoint Arena in Nottingham, England on Saturday when a single shot fired off by challenger Mauricio Lara despatched the proficient Englishman to the mat and out of the battle. Up till that time, the taller, extra fluid Wood was performing properly behind an extended jab whereas Lara labored to get inside. Although Lara was capable of land successfully at occasions, it was defending champion Wood who managed the terrain up till the seventh, when the battle ending shot was delivered.
Yet even nearly all of the seventh spherical appeared to primarily be extra of the identical for Wood and Lara. It wasn’t till the ultimate minute of the chapter, when Lara fired a left hook Jack Dempsey would have been impressed with, that Wood was caught clear, his reign as world champion subsequently coming to a sudden halt. To his credit score, Wood was capable of rise to his ft earlier than the referee may full his depend. The man appeared so wobbly, nevertheless, that his nook threw within the towel. “Leigh Wood is a great champion,” Lara good naturedly acknowledged afterwards. “He hits really hard, he’s an intelligent boxer, but I’m just absolutely delighted tonight.”
