Leigh Wood will return to the ring at home to defend his World Boxing Association (WBA) featherweight crown against Mauricio Lara on September 24 at the Nottingham Arena. 

The British fighter will face the Mexican in a fight that promises action and in which he must prove, once again, the reason why he is champion of the pioneer organization.

Wood comes from delivering the knockout of the year candidate to Michael Conlan in his last fight held at the same venue last March. It was not an easy fight for the monarch but he pulled out his caste and quality to impose himself in a spectacular way. 

Lara is an aggressive, crowd pleasing fighter. He already has experience fighting as a visitor and knows what he has to do to succeed in this kind of fights, so he is a tough challenger for the title.

It should be noted that the winner of this bout must face in his next fight the winner of the bout between the Super Champion of the category, Leo Santa Cruz, and the WBC champion, Rey Vargas, who will fight soon.

Once this step is completed, the 30 lbs. category will have only one champion by the pioneer organization and it will be another step forward in the plan to reduce the number of world titles.