Mauricio Lara stops Jose Sanmartin in Mexico City
Mauricio Lara (24-2-1, 17KO) said Jose Sanmartin (33-5-1, 21KO) wouldn't make it past six rounds and he was right.
"Bronco" made good on his promise as he delivered on a scintillating third-round TKO of the Colombian veteran at the Plaza de Toros in Mexico City, and live on DAZN, on Saturday night.
After a right hand made Sanmartin totter backwards and fall to the canvas in the third round, Lara would score his second knockdown of the frame with an eye-catching left hook across the chin. As soon as Sanmartin dropped to a knee from the shot, the referee stormed in and ended the bout to give Lara yet another electric stoppage.
The 24-year-old Mexican was originally supposed to fight WBA "regular" featherweight world champion Leigh Wood before the Brit suffered an injury to his biceps in training.
After his 24th victory from 27 bouts, Lara should be in the mix for a world title shot in his next fight, whether that will be WBA champ Leigh Wood and or IBF titlist Josh Warrington.
It's the trilogy fight with the 'Leeds Warrior' that he desires most, "I want to face Josh Warrington," Lara said in Spanish after his latest win. "It's become something very personal and I want to retire him from boxing."
