Mauricio ‘Bronco’ Lara 24-2-1 (17) has vowed to do whatever it takes to become world champion.
The 24-year-old Mexican scored a breakthrough win against two-time IBF featherweight champion Josh Warrington 31-1-1 (8) when he knocked him out in the ninth round in February last year. Their rematch seven months later ended in technical draw after an accidental clash of heads opened a nasty gash over Lara’s left eye in the second round.
Lara was slated to face WBA ‘regular’ titleholder Leigh Wood 26-2 (16) last month before the Englishman suffered a biceps injury and was forced to withdraw. Instead, he will now face Jose Sanmartin 33-5-1 (21) tonight at the Plaza de Toros Arroyo in Mexico City on Saturday night, live worldwide on DAZN.
“I want to be a world champion,” said Lara. “I will do it. I will face any champion that gives me the opportunity.
“We know that Jose is a good fighter. He’s strong. He’s coming off a seven-fight win streak. Well, he had a win streak because unfortunately he has a fight against me. Everyone knows the kind of status I have now. I’m a train without brakes and no one will stop me. I feel very prepared both mentally and physically.
“You will see a different Bronco Lara. You will still see his bravery. You will still see his power. I will work little by little in this fight, but I don’t think it goes past the sixth round.
“It fills me with a lot of emotion to fight here. Also, there are a lot of mixed feeling in my return to my city as well. I plan to deliver a great show in Mexico City, a place that has needed a show like this for quite some time.
“It means a lot to me to be able to broadcast the sport of boxing to a lot of people. That motivates me. It excites me to know that people follow me, too. I’m just trying to contribute my grain of sand for the next generation so that they can have better opportunities than I did.
“I had mixed feelings with the Wood fight being cancelled. I was sad, of course. But there are still a lot of things to do. I spoke with my representative, Alex, and he said that good things are coming. I believe that Wood is honest and that he was hurt. I hope we meet in the future.
“Now we know that there are two Englishman who have run away from a Mexican. We’ll have to meet at some point. When that happens, I will destroy him. It will be the worst decision he’ll ever have made.
“Those fights with Warrington changed my life a lot. It positioned me as one of the top prospects in Mexico City and in all of Mexico. I’m very happy that I took advantage of all the opportunities that were given to me. And, in terms of boxing skills, ‘Bronco’ Lara grew a lot.
“After the last fight with Josh, I was very frustrated. As I’ve mentioned, it’s a topic that’s become very personal for me. And we know that if he fights against me again, he will have to retire from boxing. As I’ve promised to do, so it will be. Believe me; it’s something that’s very personal.”