WBA Orders Leigh Wood To Defend His Title Against Otabek Khlomatov

Leigh Wood, the two-time WBA featherweight champion, is set to defend his title against mandatory challenger, Otabek Khlomatov.

This thrilling announcement comes just days after Wood’s impressive victory over Mauricio Lara on May 27th, 2023, at the AO Arena in Manchester.

“The World Boxing Association (WBA) Championships Committee ordered the fight between the WBA Featherweight Champion, Leigh Wood, and the number one challenger of the category, Otabek Kholmatov,” Carlos Chavez, the WBA Championship Committee chairman.

Khlomatov (11-0, 10KOs) secured his place as the mandatory challenger after a sensational victory over the previously unbeaten Thomas Patrick Ward (33-1-1, 5KOs) in a WBA featherweight championship eliminator on March 4th, 2023.

Khlomatov showcased his dominance by knocking Ward down three times before his corner had no choice but to throw in the towel in the fifth round.

If Lara had emerged victorious, the WBA featherweight championship would have remained vacant, and Khlomatov would have faced a designated challenger after Lara was stripped of the titles on the scales after failing to make weight.

With that being said, the bout will offer Wood a new challenge.