Mauricio Returns to Mexico City Against Jose Sanmartin on October 22
Matchroom Boxing has announced that world-ranked featherweight Mauricio Lara (24-2-1 17 KOs) will return to the ring on October 22 to battle Jose Sanmartin (33-5-1, 21 KOs) in Mexico City, Mexico, live on DAZN. Previously Lara was scheduled to face WBA Regular featherweight champion Leigh Wood on September 24. However, the bout was postponed when Wood suffered an injury during training.
Currently ranked twelfth by the WBA, Lara burst on the scene with a stunning ninth-round upset stoppage win over ex-IBF champ featherweight champion Josh Warrington in February 2021. They re-matched in September 2021 but the bout ended in a disappointing second-round technical decision draw after Lara suffered a cut from a headbutt. In his last outing, Lara scored a wild, third-round KO over Emilio Sanchez in March 2022.
As part of the announcement by Matchroom, Lara talked about his level of enthusiasm to get back to action. The 24-year-old is also ecstatic about fighting in his hometown of Mexico City.
READY TO RETURN HOME
“I still wish to become world champion, none of what has happened has stopped me from it. It’s been two years since I last fought in Mexico City, and I am so excited to be back with my people. I want to give them an overwhelming win and to hope I get the promised World title opportunity.”
Replacement foe Sanmartin is riding a wave of confidence. A resident of Barranquilla, Colombia, the 25-year-old has won his last seven fights since a twelfth-round knockout defeat to reigning WBO featherweight champ Emanuel Navarrete in June 2018. The most notable win during his current win streak is a ten-round unanimous decision victory over the former junior bantamweight world title challenger David Carmona.
Lara hopes a win will be a springboard for either an eventual fight with Wood or a trilogy match with Warrington, who has regained the IBF strap. Martin has eyes on playing spoiler and ruining Lara’s homecoming.
By: Michael Wilson Jr.
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