Josh Warrington vs Mauricio Lara 2 LIVE: Result, latest updates, reaction after cut forces technical draw

The Leeds Warrior was denied a chance at redemption after the Mexican suffered a severe cut inside two rounds

Lara and Warrington exchange punches in Leeds (Matchroom)

Josh Warrington‘s big Headingley comeback fell flat as his fight against Mauricio Lara was declared a technical draw after two rounds.

Warrington opened an injury around Lara’s left eye via an accidental head-butt, and the Mexican was deemed unfit to continue by the ringside doctor.

The news was greeted with groans by the 20,000-capacity crowd at the home of Leeds Rhinos who had turned up in the hope that Warrington would gain revenge for his knockout defeat by the same fighter in May.

The rules stipulate that with less than four rounds completed, the officials have no option but to declare a draw rather than go to the scorecards.

It proved an enormous anti-climax for Warrington, who had headed into the rematch in the knowledge that another defeat would effectively scupper his hopes of some day shining on the other side of the Atlantic, if not end his career itself.

But for all his insistence he would not make the mistake of overlooking Lara a second time, his pre-fight media commitments were still peppered with Stateside ambitions and dismissals of his domestic featherweight rivals.

Whilst it was admirable of Warrington to agree to step straight back in against an opponent who vanquished him so comprehensively seven months ago, it was also an engagement borne of necessity in the context of those future plans.

Warrington‘s previous reversal to Lara was no lucky punch, but a loss that required plenty of soul-searching and a completely revised game-plan prior to his high-profile reappearance in front of his adoring home city fans.

Having surrendered his unbeaten record behind closed doors at promoter Eddie Hearn’s Fight Camp, Warrington‘s hope to glean extra motivation from his thousands of raucous supporters also heaped additional pressure on such a crucial career assignment.

Warrington started well, landing much the cleaner work in the opener, although his best shots had no discernible effect on his opponent, and suggested a worrying willingness to trade.

Lara was already complaining about Warrington‘s use of the head prior to a pivotal moment midway through the second, when a clash left Lara reeling with blood around his left eye and requiring extra time to recover in his corner.

The Leeds man was warned about his use of the head in an equally action-packed second, which ended with the ringside doctor taking a long look and instructing the official to call the contest off.

Lara vs Warrington 2

• REPORT: Warrington deflated as chance of redemption snatched by Lara cut
• REPORT: Taylor defends undisputed lightweight title against Han
• REPORT: Benn outpoints Granados over 10 rounds

[4 September 2021 17:30 · Thomas Fenton]

Lara: My win over Warrington wasn’t lucky

“Warrington said that I got lucky. Believe me. There’s no luck in boxing. I’ve never won anything with luck. I won with hard work and a lot of discipline,” the Mexican fighter claims.

“Of course, since I beat him I feel I’m the champion. Like they say in my town, I’m a champion without a crown. It sounds nice and I think I’ve earned it with hard work. I want to be number one in the world and I’m going to achieve that.

“I knew I had to win decisively in the first fight. This time it will be different. I’ll win, but you’ll see a totally different Mauricio Lara. I’ll be a different person. I have more drive in this fight because Warrington has been saying a lot of things and he’ll regret it.”

[4 September 2021 17:27 · Thomas Fenton]

Warrington on life after Lara defeat

“There were times when we were going out to the supermarket and I would say to the missus, ‘I’ll just wait in the car’. I didn’t want to put people in the awkward position when you go past someone in the bread aisle and they’re like, ‘Are you alright mate?’

“Time’s a healer. If you’ve got a worldie of a girl and she leaves you, you’re devastated and you think your world has come crashing down. ‘But eventually, you go out and find another girl and she’s the love of your life.

“For the first six or seven weeks, I was dealing with injuries and that covered up all the thoughts of losing. I had a fractured jaw… an operation on my elbow, a damaged shoulder, my ear was perforated.

“I know how important this fight is for me. I think it’s going to be very different, and much better, for me this time round.”

[4 September 2021 17:10 · Jack Rathborn]

Katie Taylor vs Jennifer Han: Odds

Taylor: 1/100. KO: 5/2. Decision: 1/4

Han: 16/1. KO: 20/1. Decision: 25/1

[4 September 2021 17:10 · Jack Rathborn]

Conor Benn vs Adrian Granados: Odds

Benn: 1/20. KO: 1/3. Decision: 11/4

Granados: 8/1. KO: 12/1. Decision: 16/1

[4 September 2021 17:10 · Jack Rathborn]

Lara vs Warrington 2: Odds

Warrington: 8/11. KO: 4/1. Decision: 5/4.

Lara: 11/10. KO: 6/4. Decision: 8/1.