Mauricio Lara has been stripped of his world title on the scales after missing weight for his rematch with Leigh Wood.
Lara produced a scintillating display to snatch his rival's WBA featherweight belt earlier this year, closing the show in the seventh round with the Nottingham star unable to continue. The pair will now meet in a second meeting this weekend with 'Leigh-thal' looking to become a two-time champion and execute his revenge plan.
However the stakes will now be significantly higher for Wood who will now fight for the vacant belt, with Lara having missed a check weight earlier in the week, according to promoter Eddie Hearn. The British Boxing Board of Control advised the Mexican he would not be able to make championship weight due to health risk, and he will no longer be able to defend the title.
His rival Wood made his target when hitting the scales, and will be now looking to seize a huge opportunity to set up a showdown with Josh Warrington. Hearn released a statement confirming the news to Matchroom Boxing, in which he said: "Over the last couple of days, the British Boxing Board of Control were not happy with Lara's weight at the time.
"They then made the decision that Lara can not weigh less than 128.5lb on the scales. Leigh Wood is allowed to make championship weight and can fight for the world title on Saturday night. Leigh Wood is on weight, ready and healthy and is focused through this situation to become world champion.
"Mauricio Lara will be angry and frustrated and he will want to come out victorious on Saturday night but ultimately nothing will change for Leigh Wood and victory will see him become a two-time world champion in Manchester."
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Lara eventually stepped on the scales at 129.8lb for the final weight check on stage in Manchester, while Wood came in bang-on at 125.9lb which sees him lose his belt on the scales. In an interview following the news, Wood's trainer Ben Davison questioned whether the fight should be going ahead at all.
"Realistically this shouldn't be happening it is a disgrace," he said after the pair stepped on the scales. "I have nothing against Mauricio Lara but it is a shambles. We heard about his weight while Leigh is on championship weight. We will have to go away and talk about the situation because he is a dangerous fighter anyway.
"I know he has had to struggle to where he has got too, but Leigh's motivation is to become a two-time world champion. We had heard about the situation where he missed the check weight, but by the time we knew it was too late. I could have said Leigh don't fight for the title and fuel yourself back up, but he made the weight this morning."
