Mauricio Lara feels that Leigh Wood is overlooking him and has vowed to capture the WBA featherweight world title in emphatic fashion on Saturday.
Lara battles Wood in his maiden world title attempt in the champion’s backyard of Nottingham, live on DAZN.
The Mexican challenger rose to prominence after his ruthless victory over Josh Warrington in February 2021, in what was viewed beforehand as a routine assignment for the Leeds man.
The 24-year-old insists he is being underestimated again, despite heading into the clash as the bookies favourite.
“Of course [they’re overlooking me],” Lara told proboxing-fans.com at Thursday’s press conference.
“It’s a bad thing to do.
“We saw that people were making plans after my previous fight with Josh Warrington and it’s not a good thing to do.
“It’s not a good thing to make long-term plans, because the same thing is going to happen again.
“It’s better to think in the short-term not the long-term, because this is not what’s going to happen on Saturday night.”
Wood, 34, has won his last three by stoppage, his last a dramatic fight of the year candidate against Michael Conlan in which he rose off the canvas to knock out the Irishman in the final round.
‘Bronco’ has recorded two straight victories inside the distance since a technical draw with Warrington in their rematch in September 2021 and he has promised to brush aside Wood in brutal fashion.
“I’m just completely ready and focused and have prepared for a war,” he added.
“It’ll be a knockout.
“This is just not going to the scorecards.”
Watch the full interview with Mauricio Lara below:
