Ringside Rage Triggers Trilogy Bout, Mauricio Lara versus Josh Warrington III in Works
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
Leeds, UK (February 22nd, 2023)– If ex-world champion Leigh Wood does not exercise a rematch clause with his conqueror, current International Boxing Federation World Featherweight champion Mauricio Lara of Mexico, then Matchroom Boxing’s Eddie Hearn has the perfect British solution as to who Lara fights next. Former two-time world IBF World Featherweight champion Josh Warrington, 31-2-1 with eight knockouts, Leeds, United Kingdom, would get the call.
The bout is marketable and doable, based on the verbal rage exchange at ringside between Lar and Warrington after Warrington stopped Wood in Nottingham last week. Lara and Warrington still do not like each other, and that constitutes the basis for a trilogy bout. While not on a par with Tyson Fury’s trilogy series with Deontay Wilder, if Warrington were to win the trilogy bout with Warrington it would mean one win, one loss and one draw with each other. The Lara-Warrington rivalry is on a par with Manny Pacquiao and Erik Morales. The trilogy bout is contingent on Leigh Wood’s next move.
Hearn told the DAZN Boxing Show If we don’t do the rematch (between Leigh Wood and Mauricio Lara, then) that’s the only fight we would look to. The first (Warrington versus Lara) fight was in the bubble, it was just the most thrilling, dramatic, probably the most harrowing moment I’ve witnessed in boxing. No sound, no noise, it was just horrible. Then the rematch, a huge event in front of 20,000 at Headingley, got cut short with a head clash. So, the third fight (trilogy bout between Warring and Lara) is a natural fight. (It would be) a big stadium fight. It’s a chance for Josh Warrington to become a three-time world champion, which is unusual (given the circumstances of the Warrington versus Lara rivalry), but there’s a nice little mix in there.”
Hearn’s continued interest in Mauricio Lara, 26-2 with 19 knockouts, Mexico City, Mexico, occurs in the face of ring fact. Lara has now gone to the United Kingdom three times, and the British have been unable to beat ‘Bronco’ Lara. Since being knocked out in Durango by 11-5-1 Mexican junior welterweight journeyman Elliot Chavez at 50 seconds of the first round in May 2018.
Lara is undefeated in his last 16 consecutive pro bouts going back five years, going 15-0 with one draw, with only one bout going the 10 round distance against 44 bout Mexican veteran Sergio Puente. In the Puente bout, one judge gave Lara all ten rounds on the scorecard. Lara was behind in his bout against Leigh Wood on all three scorecards going into the seventh round before knocking down and stopping Wood at 2:54 of the seventh.
COMMENTS
English