Top Boxing Lines: Wood & Lara Battle for the WBA Featherweight Title

In Saturday’s top boxing match, Leigh Wood takes on Mauricio Lara for the WBA Featherweight Title. The contest happens in Nottingham, which should give Wood a slight edge. But Lara shows up the chalk. Will Mauricio get it done? Also on Saturday, Luis Nery battles Azat Hovhannisyan in a title fight eliminator. Check out Boxing odds, analysis, and free picks for those two bouts as well as three other fantastic boxing matches happening on Saturday, Feb. 18.

Boxing Events: Wood Versus Lara Battle for the WBA Featherweight Title

Sukru Altay +392 vs. Felix Strum -714

Altay is a tough dude. He’s got a decent 15-2 record with 14 knockouts. But Altay faces one of the better light heavyweights in Europe on Saturday.

Felix Strum is 42-6-3. Strum has suffered just one defeat via TKO or KO. Felix has stopped 18 of his opponents before the final bell. No doubt, Strum should win this because he’s battled the much tougher opponents. If you think Altay falls before the end, consider backing a knockout prop.

Boxing Pick: Felix Strum

Gamal Yafai -769 vs. Diego Alberto Ruiz +403

Underdog Diego Alberto Ruiz sports a 23-6-1 record with 12 stoppage victories. On the surface, the record implies Alberto Ruiz has a chance to upset Yafai.

Diego doesn’t. The dog in this built his record by primarily fighting in his native Argentina. Not only that, but in his last few fights, most of which were in the UK, Alberto Ruiz has struggled, losing 3-of-4, including dropping 2 straight.

Gamal Yafai has won 5-of-6. Gamal’s lone loss happened in a 12-round decision versus Jason Cunningham. Yafai gets the win in a bout that should go over the total rounds.

Boxing Pick: Gamal Yafai

Gary Cully -2500 vs. Wilfredo Flores +734

Gary Cully is an excellent boxer. The massive chalk in this has a 15-0 record with 9 stoppage victories. Cully beat Jaouad Behlmedi in his last, ending the then 16-0-3 pugilist’s night in the first.

Cully has stopped his last 4 opponents before the final bell. So although Wilfredo Flores has a decent 10-0 record, Cully should get the TKO, KO, or referee technical decision victory.

Boxing Pick: Gary Cully

Dalton Smith -10000 vs. Billy Allington +982

Dalton Smith is 13-0 with 10 stoppage victories. No doubt, Smith is going to grab the win in this.

However, it’s impossible to back Smith on the money line. So the best play is either over or under the total rounds or to back one or two knockout props. Smith usually ends his opponents’ evenings between the sixth and the tenth. So if you go the round prop route, consider rounds from six to ten.

Boxing Pick: Dalton Smith

WBA Featherweight Title
Leigh Wood +197 vs. Mauricio Lara -285

Lara is a fantastic boxer. He’s been particularly good in his last couple of bouts, knocking out Emilio Sanchez and Jose Sanmartin in the third round.

Leigh Wood is also fighting well. Wood knocked out Michael Conlan in the twelfth in a March 2022 fight. The fans will be behind Wood. Not only that, but he has a better shot of winning this than the odds indicate. The dog can bite.

Boxing Pick: Leigh Wood

Luis Nery -166 vs. Azat Hovhannisyan +120

Chalk Luis Nery’s only loss came in a May 2021 bout versus Brandon Figueroa. Since falling to Figueroa, Nery has beaten Carlos Castro and David Carmona.

But this is a big step up in class. Azat Hovhannisyan has won 7 straight bouts. Hovhannisyan’s last loss came in 2018 and it came versus Rey Vargas, who up until last Saturday was 36-0. The favorite can win. The challenger can also win. Since Azat offers better odds, he’s the play.

Boxing Pick: Azat Hovhannisyan

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