Leigh Wood v Mauricio Lara: Heated weigh-in ends with challenger eating pizza on stage

Nottingham's Leigh Wood (left) volition defends his WBA rubric against hard-hitting Mexican challenger Mauricio Lara connected Saturday night

WBA featherweight champion Leigh Wood and hostile Mauricio Lara were progressive successful a bizarre weigh-in connected Friday that saw the British boxer confronted by his rival's manager successful an statement implicit the scales and ended with the Mexican sharing a pizza connected signifier with promoter Eddie Hearn.

"The manager conscionable grabbed Wood and I mislaid my chill a small spot due to the fact that you shouldn't interaction a combatant - they're making weight," Hearn told BBC Sport.

"The British Boxing Board of Control inspector past converted it. Wood was bang connected the fig but Lara's manager didn't spot the weight. Then the inspector confirmed to the trainer the value and helium was fine."

Hearn and squad Lara aboriginal enactment their squabble to 1 broadside erstwhile the challenger - who unconventionally was eating a pizza conscionable minutes aft weighing successful - handed a portion to Hearn, possibly arsenic a bid offering.

"It was a acold pepperoni pizza, but I'm not going to moan astir it," Hearn told BBC Sport.

"That's Mexican boxing for you. Over present Leigh Wood would beryllium told erstwhile helium tin eat, which is usually aft you refuel, astir 2 hours aft the measurement in. But Lara conscionable wolfed the pizza consecutive down him."

'It was the cleanable weigh-in'

Wood - who won the loop against China's Xu Can successful 2021 - sensationally defended his rubric past March by knocking retired Michael Conlan successful the 12th round.

The 34-year-old - who volition erstwhile again beryllium headlining the Motorpoint Arena successful his location metropolis - was sporting a scarf of his beloved Nottingham Forest Football Club, with Lara, 24, draped successful Mexico colours.

The 2 fighters were separated by information aft their face-to-face arsenic they jostled erstwhile posing for the media, but Hearn does not consciousness either overstepped the mark.

"That's however you privation a weigh-in to beryllium - it was aggravated and it was perfect," Hearn said.

"You ne'er privation a headbutt oregon a slap due to the fact that that tin impact the fight. But those stills oregon video contented you volition spot of them 2 going astatine each other, that's what a instrumentality volition look astatine it and beryllium funny in.

"For maine arsenic a promoter and the information team, it is each astir getting that and past stepping successful astatine the close time."

Hearn besides confirmed erstwhile two-weight satellite champion Josh Warrington - who was shocked by Lara successful 2021 - volition beryllium ringside connected Saturday night, and could look the winner.

He said: "Josh Warrington is the earthy combat for Leigh Wood. Two Brits. Two monolithic fanbases. Josh volition privation the winner, but the victor volition ever beryllium looking astatine unifications."