Wayne Alexander (Former European Welterweight Champion)
I hope it will be a very good, tough competition and maybe find a way for both of them to win. You have to give Wood maximum credit for defending tight when it’s not required. He has a better boxing ability and is a good boxer. He is also taller with a longer reach. But I believe Lara has the style for a long and difficult 12th and will put Wood under a lot of pressure with his strong mid-half hits against Leigh. I see Lara win on points or on a late stop – if his eyes don’t open like he did with Josh Warrington
Jason Cunningham (Former European Super Chicken Champion)
I see it ends in KO. I think it will be a great fight while it lasts. Both can punch and both have many hearts. Leigh needs to be smart because we know Lara is dangerous. I’m letting Wood do the job but am expecting a cracker.
Dave Allen (Strong contender)
I think Lara won in stoppage time. I’ve eliminated Leigh many times before and have been proven wrong each time, but I just think that Lara is now as strong and powerful as any feather on the planet.
Declan Warrington (Journalist)
Leigh Wood is capable of punching Mauricio Lara – and to some extent he will, which is part of why this fight is so compelling. He’s the rounder of the two – he’s a better boxer than Michael Conlan lets him look at – so he’ll win rounds where they don’t spend time trading, but they will probably trade many times, and when they win, Lara has the same ability. hurt him. Wood is the favorite but Lara has a bigger drive and can make it work for him.
Leigh Wood knocks out Michael Conlan at Motorpoint Arena, Nottingham on March 12, 2022 (Nigel Roddis/Getty Images)
