SSE Arena, Wembley - Mauricio Lara (22-2, 15 KOs) pulled off a massive upset as he beat down and knocked out unbeaten former featherweight champion Josh Warrington (30-1, 7 KOs) in the ninth round. (photos by Mark Robinson)
Warrington had vacated the IBF title in the weeks leading up to this return, because the sanctioning body had ordered him to rematch Kid Galahad.
Warrington seemed to shake up Lara in the early moments of the first round. Lara shook it off and was landing big shots on Warrington as the round went on. Warrington was more cautious as the second round started and was landing quick counters while also unloading with heavy combinations.
Lara was not landing enough or applying the proper pressure in round three. Warrington was boxing well. Lara came out firing in the fourth, with Warrington getting clipped with a few hard shots and then getting seriously hurt with a massive combination and dropped hard. Warrington made it up, but was nearly knocked out as the referee gave him every possible chance to continue the fight as he got battered with shots.
Warrington was on unsteady legs at the start of the fifth, but he was firing back with Lara in toe to toe fashion. Warrington was once again rocked during the sixth, as he was being clipped with heavy blows while the round played out. A close seventh, with Warrington still getting hit with too many punches.
Lara continued to outland Warrington with the harder punches in the eight. In the ninth, Lara dropped Warrington hard with a heavy hook and the fight was waved off.
