Britons Leigh Wood and Chris Billam-Smith emerge world champions in chaotic night of boxing
Wood reclaims WBA featherweight world title with points win over Mauricio Lara in Manchester
Nottingham's Wood produces disciplined and classy performance to gain revenge over Lara
Scorecards read 118-109, 116-111 and 118-109 for Wood
Billam-Smith dethrones Lawrence Okolie of his WBO cruiserweight title in Bournemouth
Billam-Smith wins via majority decision after knocking Okolie down three times
Scorecards read 112-112, 116-107 and 115-108 for Billam-Smith
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Image source, PA Media
Image source, Getty ImagesWhat a night it has been for Chris Billam-Smith and Leigh Wood, who both end it with world belts in their possession.
That's all for us so thanks for joining us and until next time, bye for now.
Emma Smith
BBC Sport
Image source, Getty ImagesLeigh Wood gained revenge on Mauricio Lara by unanimous points decision as he regained the WBA featherweight title with an impressive display.
Lara, 25, stopped the 34-year-old Englishman in February but vacated the belt on Friday after failing to make weight for this rematch in Manchester.
The Mexican's sluggish movement was in contrast to the clever, dominant performance of Wood. Wood knocked down Lara in round two and never looked in trouble thereafter.
The judges scored it 118-109, 116-111 and 118-109 in his favour.
Wood was the only fighter at AO Arena who could leave with the belt and had the Mexican won the title would have been left vacant.
However, Wood never looked likely to give up the opportunity to reclaim the belt he first won in July 2021 and made amends for the previous defeat to Lara, when he looked on top before being stopped in the seventh round.
Wood had clearly learned his lessons, putting on a much more defensively secure and technically assured performance.
Lara, meanwhile, looked to run out of ideas early on and despite a 4lbs weight advantage and facing a foe who had gone through with a weigh cut, he rarely troubled his opponent.
Kal Sajad
BBC Sport at Vitality Stadium, Bournemouth
Image source, Getty ImagesChris Billam-Smith became the new WBO cruiserweight champion as he dethroned former gym-mate Lawrence Okolie on a memorable night in Bournemouth.
Fighting in his home town in front of 15,000 jubilant fans, underdog Billam-Smith floored Okolie three times en route to a majority points victory.
A frustrated Okolie was twice docked points for holding and grappling as he lost his unbeaten record. The judges' scorecards read 112-112, 116-107 and 115-108.
Okolie - who was part of trainer Shane McGuigan's gym before the pair split earlier this year - suffered a first career defeat in his 20th professional outing.
"I love being a winner, I love being a champion but I have to take my hat off to him, it was very good work," the beaten fighter told Sky Sports.
"I am just pleased to be here in front of 15,000 with Chris, my friend.
"I just tried to keep my composure but those things do play on your mind. I trained really hard because I know what Chris is made of. He is made of the good stuff."
Billam Smith, a British, Commonwealth and European champion, won his maiden world title as he extended his record to 18 wins and one loss.
"I was sick in bed all week, I didn't eat from Tuesday to Thursday, I managed to put on a brave face," he said.
"I just want to dedicate this to my mum who has breast cancer at the minute. Mum, this is for you, I love you so much."
Nottingham's Leigh Wood is a two-time world champion. Not bad, eh?
Image source, PA MediaWood held onto Mauricio Lara's sombrero for months. He used the gift as motivation for the rematch and it worked a treat.
Image source, ReutersBournemouth are preparing for their Premier League game at Everton tomorrow but a few of their players were watching their fight and offered their congratulations to home favourite Chris Billam-Smith after his win against Lawrence Okolie:
Jaidon Anthony: "Chris Billam-Smith big big congrats mate."
Dominic Solanke: "World champ.. yeahhh man!"
Wood beats Lara on unanimous points decision to regain world title
Promoter Eddie Hearn, speaking to DAZN: "He [Wood] calls on Lara for a voluntary defence, everyone said he is mad. Schools him, gets knocked out. Comes into the office on Monday and says he wants a rematch in a couple of months.
"[Trainer] Ben [Davison] is looking at me like he is mad, I am looking at him like he is mad, he wouldn't take no for an answer. Gets on the scales, Lara comes in nearly a weight division above him. These guys have to make a decision [whether to fight]. Time and time again he has shown unbelievable heart.
"They made a decision collectively to take the fight with the weight difficulties yesterday. He is an old school fighter, Nottingham legend, we have to make City Ground happen. People will say Lara was flat. Leigh Wood did a job on Lara tonight and becomes a two-time world champion."
Wood beats Lara on unanimous points decision to regain world title
BBC Radio 5 Live
Leigh Wood, speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, says: "It's amazing. There's only one thing that can top it and that's fighting at home at the City Ground [home of Nottingham Forest]. It will be the next one or the one after.
"I want to thank all the travelling fans to make it a night to remember. The crowd picked me up and got me through.
"I should've done that first time around. He's tricky but if you switch off he will put your lights out. I was so focused, so driven, I was never going to fail no matter what."
Wood beats Lara on unanimous verdict
Former WBC cruiserweight champion Tony Bellew speaking on DAZN: "Tonight he was punch perfect, switched on all the way through. After Lara was knocked down he just didn't want to know, he couldn't figure Leigh out.
"When you are so far behind, just throw. Lara tonight was tamed by Wood, he had an answer for everything."
Former super-middleweight world champion Carl Froch: "A shot like that can just drain you. Wood didn't need to take any risks. But in that case you go out swinging.
"To fight at the City Ground, with Forest staying up and with Leigh Wood potentially bringing a fight to the city, that's brilliant."
Wood beats Lara on unanimous points decision
Two-time world champion Leigh Wood, speaking to DAZN: "What a feeling. I wasn't losing no matter what. He is a great fighter.
"I am here for hard fights, I am here for fights that are nip and tuck. I may get beat but I'll come back and beat them.
"The body jab was key to success. My team got it bang on so a massive thanks to them. They won this as well."
Who do you want next? "Warrington makes sense. Lopez unification fight. Whoever. I probably have two fights left, City ground one, unification another. I want my happy ending."
Biggest win of career? "I think it is, it is up there. Two time world champion. Only one thing will top it, please Eddie get it made."
Billam-Smith beats Okolie via majority decision to win WBO cruiserweight title
Introducing England's new world champion, Bournemouth's Chris Billam-Smith.
Image source, Getty ImagesThe sight of celebration and devastation...
Image source, Getty Images
Image source, ReutersWood beats Lara on unanimous points decision
Barry Jones
Former world champion on BBC Radio 5 live
There is one word to describe that performance - discipline. They had a plan. Everything he did was behind that left hand. Discipline won him that fight tonight.
This was a risky fight to take, a stupid fight to take in many ways. But he got it right tonight. A fantastic performance.
Leigh Wood is a two-time champion of the world!
The Nottingham man gets the verdict on all three cards. Howard Foster says 118-109, Jose Igracio Martinez 116-111 and Victor Simons 118-109.
Wood gets his world title back. And completely deserved too.
Image source, ReutersLara v Wood 2 - round 12
The fight has gone the distance, but Leigh Wood jumps up on to the ropes at the end of the 12th and surely he has become a two-time world champion.
He did not do much wrong at all, nullified the Mexican's threats and put his opponent down in the second.
It should be a wide Wood win.
We go to the scorecards.
Image source, PA MediaLara v Wood 2 - round 12
Ronald McIntosh
Boxing commentator on BBC Radio 5 Live
Wood is boxing out of his skin. He is completely nullifying the threats of Lara.
Lara v Wood 2 - round 11
A beautiful left hook from Wood wobbles Lara. One minute to go.
Lara v Wood 2 - round 11
A left hook from Lara momentarily rocks the Wood head back and there's the warning for him to not get complacent.
But we're now going into the 12th and Lara, knocked down in the second, is surely miles behind on the cards and only a knockout in the final three minutes will change this.
"He's going to come out like a madman," warns Wood's trainer Ben Davison.
Here we go.
Billam-Smith beats Okolie via majority decision
Lawrence Okolie is gracious in defeat, praising his friend and promising to be back.
He tells Sky Sports: "I love being a winner, I love being a champion but I have to take my hat off to him, it was very good work.
"We're going to run it back. I am pleased to be here in front of 15,000 with Chris my friend."
On having points taken for holding: "I just tried to keep my composure but those things do play on your mind. I trained really hard because I know what Chris is made of. He is made of the good stuff.
"Today is his night. I might be down but I am definitely not out. I am the type of person who can adapt to a loss, I'll be back again."
Image source, PA MediaLara v Wood 2 - round 10
Leigh Wood won the WBA belt in July 2021 - beating China's Can Xu in Eddie Hearn's backgarden in Brentwood, back in those times when Covid-19 meant events in arenas were a no no.
An incredibly dramatic last-round win over Michael Conlan in Nottingham followed in March 2022, with Wood, behind on the cards, knocking Conlan out of the ring to win it.
Then came the loss to Lara in February 2023, but, barring something incredible happening, Wood is getting his belt back tonight
This is a clinic from Wood at the moment. Lara in serious, serious trouble. Two rounds to go.
Billam-Smith beats Okolie via majority decision
Chris Billam-Smith dedicates the win to his mum, with the victory coming after a tough week in which he struggled with illness.
"I was sick in bed all week, I didn't eat from Tuesday to Thursday, I managed to put on a brave face," he tells Sky Sports.
"I just want to dedicate this to my mum who has breast cancer at the minute. Mum, this is for you, I love you so much."
Image source, ReutersLara v Wood 2 - round nine
Anthony Crolla
Former world champion on BBC Radio 5 Live
"I just believe Leigh Wood here is boxing superbly. He is taking a rest at the right time. I am a little bit disappointed with Lara. I think Wood is in total control here."