Comments Thread For: Leigh Wood Regains WBA Title, Wins Dominant Decision Over Mauricio Lara

[richardt]

Lara's work rate went down because A) he was trying harder for the KO and putting more into single shots, B) missing punches tires and discourages a fighter more, C) he was being countered more effectively. Wood was more motivated and defense-aware. The IQ gap between them was huge.

[richardt]

Wood and Lopez should never give Warrington another shot at the title. He is a piece of crap.

[richardt]

Lopez = circles, uses angles, timing, catches a fighter coming in, changes up his front foot and back foot fighting: High Boxing IQ. Lara = one-dimensional, easy to hit, no change-up in anything: low Boxing IQ. Warrington = average boxing IQ, dirty fighter, fk him. Wood = Uses jab, distance, circles well, great timing: High Boxing IQ. Ramirez = isn't high volume but uses his skills to reduce the volume of opponents because of his distance and movement, times fighters well, hits them at angles: high boxing IT. I think the leaders are Lopez and Ramirez, they can beat anyone on the list.

[kiaba360]

Wood and Lopez should never give Warrington another shot at the title. He is a piece of crap.

Wood wants a fight at the City Ground, and Warrington would help sell it out. The title isn't worth keeping for Wood as he'll have to defend it against Kholmatov (mandatory), should MR not get an exemption. MR also needs to provide whatever big UK fights that they can, while they can.

[JonDP]

You know a fighter is compromised when the corner is not yelling at them to let their hands go. Lara’s corner were glad just to cruise to the final bell. Not sure if it’s the weight cutting or something else but Lara was a shell of the guy we have seen before.

[kiaba360]

You know a fighter is compromised when the corner is not yelling at them to let their hands go. Lara’s corner were glad just to cruise to the final bell. Not sure if it’s the weight cutting or something else but Lara was a shell of the guy we have seen before.

Hard weight-cut, lost his title on the scale, and got financially penalized. Then, Wood commits to a strategy that neutralizes Lara: a tidy/economic offense to limit Lara's countering/exchanging opportunities, clinching to stop Lara's barrages, a stabbing body jab to limit Lara's pressure and deplete his stamina, defense/footwork with the intent of disarming Lara's left hook. We can say that Lara wasn't right physically/mentally going into the ring, but Team Wood showed that they were extremely prepared for the best version of Lara.

[JonDP]

Hard weight-cut, lost his title on the scale, and got financially penalized. Then, Wood commits to a strategy that neutralizes Lara: a tidy/economic offense to limit Lara's countering/exchanging opportunities, clinching to stop Lara's barrages, a stabbing body jab to limit Lara's pressure and deplete his stamina, defense/footwork with the intent of disarming Lara's left hook. We can say that Lara wasn't right physically/mentally going into the ring, but Team Wood showed that they were extremely prepared for the best version of Lara.

a 100% Lara takes wood out regardless.

[JonDP]

Wood’s team are very clever indeed. They pulled a Leonard-Duran II by making Lara rematch right away when they assumed (correctly) that Lara would have been partying and celebrating for two months after winning the title.

[kiaba360]

a 100% Lara takes wood out regardless.

What was your take on their first fight?

[kiaba360]

Wood’s team are very clever indeed. They pulled a Leonard-Duran II by making Lara rematch right away when they assumed (correctly) that Lara would have been partying and celebrating for two months after winning the title.

The Lara/Wood 2 turnaround actually happened 2 months faster than Leonard/Duran 2. As such, Lara had less time to engage in irresponsible behavior. Wood didn't dwell on the stoppage loss, he dusted himself off and got back in the gym. The quick turnaround could've been disastrous for Wood because he risked not having enough time to physically/mentally recover. Lara isn't the only person that has a tough time making weight. If Wood got stopped again on Saturday, it could've spelled the end of his career.