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Nottingham Post

Sport

Leigh Curtis

'Talked a lot of crap' - Leigh Wood reveals how Mauricio Lara has given him extra motivation

Leigh Wood Mauricio Lara Michael Conlan Josh Warrington Nottingham Forest WBA

When Leigh Wood is asked about Mauricio Lara and whether he has shown him enough respect, the response is as ruthless as one of his body shots.

"He has talked a lot of crap and he will pay for it," says the WBA featherweight champion who defends his crown against the dangerous Mexican at Nottingham's Motorpoint Arena on Saturday.

He is referring to Lara's suggestion that he faked torn biceps which led to their fight last year being scrapped. While smack talk in boxing is to be expected, Wood has not forgotten what he feels was a cheap shot.

"He has been disrespectful," he continues. "It's quite strange really. He said online that I faked my injury which wouldn't normally bother me because you expect crap, but people will read that and believe it.

"That really p***** me off. That's given me that bit of needle in training. That extra motivation to do more reps, more seconds, that extra push. I am not going to lie, he's done me a favour.

"Stepping back and looking at it, why would I fake an injury? Why would I pull out of a fight that I picked? I picked him. If you want to be the best, beat the best."

At a time in boxing when the elite are avoiding each other like the plague, Wood has won plenty of acclaim from champions past and present for choosing Lara to defend his WBA crown.

There were less dangerous alternatives out there but apart from a payday, there is little to be gained in terms of reputation by sticking a tomato can in the opposite corner.

Instead, his choice to fight Lara has captured the imagination of boxing purists, pundits, and more importantly the fans. Nobody expects it to last the distance given both carry hell in both fists so it is easy to explain why the tagline "Dance with the Devil" is being used to promote such a mouthwatering showdown.

Many pundits feel it is a risk for Wood to face the man who pulverized Josh Warrington two years ago in what was an impressive display of power, but the Gedling fighter sees opportunity and weakness.

"He's a good counter puncher, which people don't give him credit for," says Wood. "If you give him what he wants, what he's used to, then you're in for a hard night as Josh Warrington found out.

"You can't be predictable, but at the same time, he's predictable if you've given him certain things. Without giving too much away, I'm ready for him. I'm ready for his strengths and I will expose his weaknesses as well.

"He's dangerous. But at the same time, he's reckless. He can punch, but I can punch. I can box forward, backward, left, and right. I've got a lot of strings to my bow. I'm tough, I'm ballsy and I'm resilient. I feel I have a lot more qualities than he has."

Wood's resilience can never be called into question, particularly after the way he fought back to demolish Michael Conlan at the same arena just under a year ago.

Leigh Wood (white shorts) knocks out Michael Conlan (green shorts) during the WBA World Featherweight Title fight (Getty Images)

He was on the canvas early on but clawed his way back into a contest that was epic and brutal theatre. Eventually, it ended with Conlan being punched through the ropes in the 12th round leading to his father catching him as he fell ringside.

It was a scary reminder of what fighters risk every time they step into the ring, but Wood's victory deservedly won the fight and knockout of the year in what was one of the most thrilling world title showdowns this country has ever seen.

The atmosphere that night popped with electricity, helped by the thousands of Nottingham Forest fans who were in attendance to support a fellow Red. They will no doubt create another raucous occasion this weekend that Wood feels Lara will not be ready for.

"Conlan said I've never experienced that size crowd before," recalls Wood.

"He said he's done it many times and that it takes a lot of character and a lot of experience to deal with them nights. I dismissed him straightaway and I said if you think I'm going to crumble under pressure in my own city, you're in for a big mistake. I don't feel like I'm carrying the weight of my city on my shoulders. I feel like they are lifting me carry me, they are underneath me and they're right behind me. That's exactly how it felt when I walked out, they took me to another level.

"For Lara, it's something he has not experienced before. The first time he boxed Warrington, it was coronavirus >Covid so there was no one there.

The second fight (against Warrington) was in front of a lot of people but it was outdoors. It's not the same. In that Motorpoint Arena, it's going to be loud, it's going to be intense. He's going to know that he's walking into a cauldron. I don't think he's prepared for it and
I hope he is because he's not only got that to deal with, he got me at my very best as well."

Wood's thrilling performance last time out undoubtedly brought greater recognition and he has since featured regularly as a pundit for the premium boxing channel DAZN.

There are greater paydays too which has led him to invest his money into commercial properties in Nottingham not to mention an increased number of photo requests from fans.

But it's comforting to know that through this rise to stardom, the 34-year-old remains as grounded as ever.

"Life remains pretty much the same after Conlan," he says.

"I keep the same routine, I still train down at Essex and go back at weekends to see my kids. I try to stay grounded, but outside of that, I get recognised a lot more in most places I go. Even down in Essex, which is strange.

"I didn't think that would happen. I've been recognised a few times in Tesco getting food. In Nottingham I get recognised and it's quite nice as well. A lot of people say I was at your last fight, it was a brilliant night, and what a night it was.

"But I've invested money in the barbershop that I've been going to since I was a kid. It's more beneficial, in my opinion, to buy commercial property instead of residential, because people are in and out all the time.
"With commercial places, there are longer leases, so it's a lot less stress, especially in my position when I'm away a lot.

"I was going to get a new car. I was supposed to get a new car in the next few weeks. I've waited nearly a year, but at the last minute, I changed my mind because I've got a new car for my fight anyway, just to get me by. I've got some more property that I'm investing in and I don't need a new car.

"As you get older, the things you wanted when you were younger aren't the same things you want when you actually mature and you get to that level if that makes sense.

"The expression that I'll never forget, and I can't remember who said it, but I heard it and I thought that's pretty much everyone and that's don't go broke acting rich. Even if you've got a lot of money, it can easily go if you don't do the right things. You want to make that money make money for you."