LEIGH WOOD returns to action this weekend as he defends his WBA world featherweight title against Mauricio Lara.

Nottingham fighter Wood hasn’t been in the ring since his epic 12th-round knockout victory over Michael Conlan 11 months ago.

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Lara is best known for fighting Josh Warrington twice, knocking him out in the first and stopping the second after the Mexican suffered a cut from an accidental headbutt.

Both Wood and Lara are big punchers and most will view this fight as the most explosive the featherweight division has to offer.

Wood, who was promoted to WBA 126-pound outright champion earlier this year, was scheduled to fight Lara last year before he withdrew with injury.

But now he has his chance against the feared Mexican, who is facing his first world title shot.

When is Wood vs. Lara?

• Wood’s big clash against Lara takes place this weekend on Saturday, February 18.

• The fight will take place at Nottingham’s Motorpoint Arena.
• The circular walks for the main event should start around 10pm UK time.
• The main billboard will start at 7:00 p.m.

What channel is it on and can it be broadcast live?

• Wood vs Lara will be broadcast live on DAZN in the UK as part of your monthly subscription.
• You can subscribe to DAZN for £9.99 a month, which commits you for 12 months.
• You can also pay £99.99 upfront for the year, or choose DAZN’s flexible savings option, which costs £19.99 a month, and allows you to cancel at any time.
• The fight is available to stream live on the DAZN app, which you can download to your mobile or tablet device.

Wood vs Lara full poster

• Leigh Wood vs. Mauricio Lara – for the WBA featherweight title
• Dalton Smith vs. Billy Allington
• Gary Cully vs. Wilfredo Flores
• Cheavon Clarke vs. TBA
• Gamal Yafai vs. Diego Alberto Ruiz
• Kieron Conway vs. Jorge Silva
• Nico Leivars vs. Alberto Motos
• Junaid Bostan vs. TBA

What has been said?

Wood He said: “I’d rather be an underdog and I love to prove people wrong.

“People tweet me all the time and say, ‘this is a mismatch and I’m going to lose,’ but if you look at my Twitter, I retweet them because it feeds me.

“Winning feeds me. Lara has a style that suits me. Conlan was wrong for me stylistically, but styles make the fights and I am confident in my ability.

“If I approach this fight wrong, it could be brutal. Lara is good and we saw that in the first fight with Josh Warrington, but if I do what I plan, this fight won’t go halfway, I’m going to get Lara out of there.”