British boxing is throwing every part on the wall to see what sticks this afternoon (Sat., Might 27, 2023), and whereas we will’t fairly cowl every part, some fan-friendly scheduling means we will at the very least cowl the 2 largest fights of the weekend: Luis Alberto Lopez’s IBF Featherweight title protection in opposition to Michael Conlan and Mauricio Lara’s rematch with Leigh Wooden.
MMAmania.com will ship LIVE protection of each major occasions. Lopez and Conlan are anticipated to make the stroll round 4 p.m. ET on ESPN+ (watch it right here), with Lara and Wooden squaring off nearer to five p.m. ET on DAZN.
After scoring a prolonged string of upsets, Lopez turned the newest Mexican slugger to flip the script in Britain by gritting out a majority choice over the headbutt-happy Josh Warrington in Dec. 2022. Lara preceded him in these efforts by smashing Warrington in 2021, then claimed his first world title with a come-from-behind wipeout of Wooden in Feb. 2023.
He wound up dropping that title on the scales, however Wooden stays eligible to win it.
Mauricio Lara vs. Leigh Wooden — Wooden def. Lara by unanimous choice (118-109 x2, 116-111)Luis Alberto Lopez vs. Michael Conlan — Lopez def. Conlan by TKO at 1:14 of Spherical 5 — HIGHLIGHTS
Photograph by Martin Rickett/PA Photographs through Getty Photographs
WBA Featherweight Championship: Mauricio Lara vs. Leigh Wooden
Spherical one: Early counter hook from Lara as Wooden steadily pushes ahead. Surprisingly sluggish begin, Wooden tentatively reaching along with his jab. Midway by. Fast alternate, neither connects. Lengthy shovel hook from Lara. Lara lands a counter proper, each assault the physique afterwards. Issues quickly sluggish again down. Wooden physique jab and counter proper. Lara tries to hurry, will get clinched. 10-9 Lara.
Spherical two: Lara goes low-high, eats a jab to the physique, comes again with a counter proper. They collide and Lara connects with a left hook earlier than an ungainly flip journeys Lara up. Stable jabs from Wooden after they resume. Heavy jab catches Lara stepping in. Lara wades in with physique pictures, clinch. Good combo from Wooden within the heart midway by. Subsequent volleys blocked. Clinch. Wooden 1-2, good jab. He follows the following left with a tough uppercut that sends Lara to the mat. Lara bates the rely comfortably and comes out weapons blazing. Wooden plunks him with another counter proper earlier than the bell. 10-8, 19-18 Wooden.
Spherical three: Wooden lands a very good proper and eats a headbutt for his hassle. Lara connects with a brief left hook when Wooden subsequent clinches. Nasty lead proper from Wooden and a left hook behind it. Wooden wanting nice within the early going, absorbs a pair of physique pictures. Lara simply not energetic sufficient. Laborious proper cross from Wooden dings Lara, who comes again with physique pictures midway by the spherical. Good exchanges within the heart. Wooden jabs the physique after a lull. Lara goes low-high with a right-left. Good physique work. 10-9, 29-27 Wooden.
Spherical 4: Pretty sluggish opening minute. Good alternate, physique pictures land for Lara. Wooden left hook, clinch. Extra physique pictures from Lara. Wooden sends out some jabs, clinch. Sluggish third minute s nicely. They swing within the heart, then commerce on the ropes. 10-9 Lara, 38-37 Wooden.
Spherical 5: Wooden patiently advancing behind the jab. Lara tries to punch his manner off the ropes and walks into some heavy jabs. Lara to the physique, lacking on the massive looping pictures. Jab alternate, up-jab from Lara, physique shot. Midway by. Extra jabs from Wooden, who’s sporting a minimize across the left eye. Mixture lands for Lara within the heart. One other lengthy left hook. Quick alternate close to the ropes, Lara can’t fairly join. Sharp lead proper by Wooden. Lara tries to cost within the ultimate seconds. 10-9, 48-46 Wooden.
Spherical six: One other early standoff, neither man pulling the set off. Physique shot from Lara, who eats one other stiff jab from Wooden. Wooden follows with a pointy hook and physique jab. Each assault the physique close to the ropes. Midway by. Jab and physique shot by Lara, clinch. Lara once more goes to the physique they usually commerce on the ropes. Wooden lead proper. Extra jabs from Wooden. Heavy one from Lara in return. Lara comes on sturdy within the final 10 seconds. 10-9 Lara, 57-56 Wooden.
Spherical seven: Each males nonetheless largely passive and flat-footed. Wooden completely satisfied to jab, Lara not doing a lot to shut the gap. Good verify hook from Wooden. Straight proper by the guard. Proper arms in opposition to the ropes. Lara wades in, can’t land clear midway by. Wooden again to flicking out the jab at lengthy vary. Counter uppercut to left hook. Comfortably controlling the long-range struggle. Lara tries to enter, will get clinched. Shut-range exchanges within the ultimate quarter. 10-9, 67-65 Wooden.
Spherical eight: Lara simply not doing almost sufficient. Wooden’s working behind his jab with impunity. Wooden counter proper, brief punches from Lara. Good physique work by Lara midway by. This actually has change into a remarkably uninteresting struggle, which is the very last thing I anticipated. Wooden backs Lara to the ropes and simply pokes him with the jab for a bit. Lara tries to open up in opposition to the ropes to no impact. One other tried late surge from Lara. 10-9, 77-74 Wooden.
Spherical 9: Wooden in cruise management, peppering Lara with the jab and avoiding the very sporadic return hearth. Midway by. Up-jab from Lara together. Nasty straight proper by Wooden. Lara can’t constantly get inside or do any injury when he does. 10-9, 87-83 Wooden.
Spherical ten: Lara falling brief with ugly swings as Wooden continues to regulate proceedings at vary. Physique jabs from Wooden. Lara fires some arm punches within the clinch. Sharp counter proper by Wooden. Lara making an attempt to open up within the clinch midway by. They commerce within the heart. Extra jabs from Wooden, who lands a loaded-up proper cross. Lara awkwardly slips. He’s appeared half-awake tonight. Once more he tries to go for it within the ultimate seconds. 10-9, 97-92 Wooden.
Spherical eleven: The story continues: Wooden’s boxing nicely and Lara appears to be like like he’s barely in first gear. Midway by. Wooden steadily potshotting, Lara sometimes making an attempt to reply with ugly swings. Good proper cross by Wooden. 10-9, 107-101 Wooden.
Spherical twelve: Early hook from Lara, who’s not preventing like he wants a knockout. Wooden goes proper again to the jab and continues to chip away. Midway by. Laborious verify hook from Wooden rattles Lara, and he follows with a physique shot earlier than getting clinched. Lara awkwardly making an attempt to hurl haymakers. 10-9, 117-110 Wooden.
Closing end result: Wooden def. Lara by unanimous choice
Photograph by Charles McQuillan/Getty Photographs
IBF Featherweight championship: Luis Alberto Lopez vs. Michael Conlan
Spherical one: Conlan comes out southpaw, focusing on the physique early. Stable mixture work, mixing it up excessive and low. Lopez picks it up a bit a minute in, touchdown his personal physique pictures. Excessive quantity from Conlan, avoiding most of what comes again his manner midway by. 4 lefts from Conlan. Lopez backs him to the nook, lands a strong proper hand and uppercut earlier than getting clinched. Lunging mixture lands for Lopez, Conlan ties up quickly after. Extra good high-low mixups from Conlan. Heavy overhand lefts with 10 seconds to go. 10-9 Conlan.
Spherical two: Lopez trying to push ahead, discovering some physique pictures. Good exchanges kicked off by an overhand left from Conlan. Buying and selling physique pictures. Lopez backs him close to the ropes and lets a combo go. Conlan comes again with uppercuts. Nice motion thus far midway by the spherical, Conlan exhibiting high quality protection and quantity. Clubbing proper hook after backing Lopez to the nook. Extra potshots from Conlan as Lopez launches looping volleys. 2-1 from Lopez dings Conlan, who loops a left across the guard. Conlan backs him to the ropes and fires mixtures. ESPN+ breaks on the 10-second mark, so assuming nothing loopy occurred, 10-9, 20-18 Conlan.
Spherical three: Lopez lands some clubbing pictures within the early going. Conlan persevering with to match him blow for blow. Good physique pictures from each. Lopez backs him off with a 2-1 and bangs the physique in opposition to the ropes. Conlan comes again with sharp physique work and left arms upstairs. Midway by. Extra physique work by Conlan, then a left upstairs that Lopez solutions with a flurry. Lopez appears to be like invigorated and he bullies Conlan to the ropes, launching a prolonged volley to the top and physique. Lopez discovering the mark on a considerably stationary Conlan, who ties up in response. Buying and selling in heart ring. Good physique shot by Conlan. 10-9 Lopez, 29-28 Conlan.
Spherical 4: Lopez has actually discovered his groove, pursuing Conlan throughout the ring with heavy pictures. Conlan nonetheless answering with combos of his personal. Lopez getting the higher of it. Charging hook by Lopez, who absorbs an uppercut and throws again with a smile. Midway by. Buying and selling at shut vary, clinch. Uppercut to chopping left by Lopez that prompts a clinch. Nasty physique shot that Conlan solutions with an overhand left. There goes the ESPN+ feed once more. It doesn’t come again till after the spherical. Primarily based on what was taking place, 10-9 Lopez, 38-38.
Spherical 5: Lopez in full management, marching after a sport Conlan. Laborious physique pictures. They commerce some laborious pictures close to the ropes, then Lopez hurls a monster uppercut that utterly short-circuits Conlan. “Mick” teeters slow-mo to the mat and the towel comes flying in.
Closing end result: Lopez def. Conlan by TKO
For extra on “Lopez vs. Conlan,” “Wooden vs. Lara 2,” and different boxing-related occasions, click on right here.
