Leigh Wood vs Mauricio Lara LIVE: Start time, undercard, live stream and how to follow – WBA champion ready for Nottingham homecoming

Leigh Wood will defend his WBA title against Mauricio Lara TONIGHT as the featherweight rivals finally meet after a proposed clash last year was postponed.

‘Leigh-thal’ Wood stunned Xu Can to claim the featherweight crown in July 2021 and defended his title against Michael Conlan last March.

Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing

Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing

He was set to face Mexico’s ‘Bronco’ Lara in September but had to pull out due to a torn bicep.

But now, the two are ready to do battle in Wood’s hometown of Nottingham in what promises to be a thrilling clash.

Wood vs Lara: Date and start time 

This 12-round featherweight title clash will take place on Saturday, February 18 and is being held at the Nottingham Arena. 

The undercard is set to get underway from 6pm and the main event expected to begin at 10:30pm.

Wood vs Lara: TV channel and live stream 

The fight will be broadcast live on DAZN and it can be live-streamed via the UK DAZN app. 

For new customers, it will cost £7.99 to become a member and the fight will be available to watch on all mobile devices and tablets.

talkSPORT will have all the latest from the fight throughout the week.

talkSPORT.com will also be running a live blog to bring you all the action from Nottingham.

Mark Robinson/Matchroom

Wood vs Lara: Undercard

Subject to change

• MAIN EVENT: Leigh Wood vs Mauricio Lara – for WBA featherweight title
• Dalton Smith vs Billy Allington
• Cheavon Clarke vs Israel Duffus
• Gary Cully vs Wilfredo Flores
• Gamal Yafai vs Diego Alberto Ruiz            
• Junaid Bostan vs Peter Kramer
• Kieron Conway vs Jorge Silva
• Aaron Bowen vs Mathieu Gomes
• Sam Maxwell vs Shaun Cooper

On the undercard, top talent Dalton Smith will defend his British super-lightweight title against Billy Allington, with potential next opponent Sam Maxwell also on the show.

Highly rated lightweight Gary Cully is in action against Wilfredo Flores, with Gamal Yafai, Kieron Conway, Cheavon Clarke and Junaid Bostan all continuing their progression too.

Mark Robinson/Matchroom

Wood vs Lara: What has been said? 

Wood: “I prefer being an underdog and I love proving people wrong.

“People tweet me all the time and say, ‘this is a mismatch and I’m going to lose’ but if you look at my Twitter I retweet them because it fuels me.

“Winning fuels me. Lara has a style that suits me. Conlan was all wrong for me stylistically, but styles make fights and I’m confident in my ability.

“If I approach this fight wrong, it could be brutal. Lara is good and we saw that in the first fight with Josh Warrington, but if I do as I plan, this fight won’t reach halfway – I’m going to get Lara out of there.

“He [Lara] said I faked my injury and that annoyed me. Why would I fake my injury?

“I didn’t have to fight him, this is a voluntary defence, but I want to test myself and I’m going to show him what I’m all about.”