Former two-time IBF featherweight champion Josh Warrington claims Mauricio Lara spat on him on Saturday night in Nottingham.

Warrington was ringside, watching Lara become the WBA featherweight champion with a stoppage win over hometown hero Leigh Wood.

Lara was behind on the scorecards when he landed a massive left hook to drop Wood hard on his back in the seventh round. Wood beat the count, but he was on very unsteady legs - which prompted his head trainer, Ben Davison, to throw in the towel.

In 2021, Lara made a big name for himself when he traveled over to the UK and knocked out Warrington in nine rounds. A few months later, their rematch ended in a no-contest after two rounds - when a clash of heads opened up a severe cut above the eye of Lara.

Lara has stated in numerous interviews that Warrington was a "dirty fighter" who intentionally used his head and elbows. in both of their meetings.

Warrington was ringside as part of DAZN's broadcast team.

He claims Lara, after his stoppage of Wood, stepped through the ropes and spat on him - which led to a near brawl between the two boxers.

“As soon as the fight’s been waved off, he looks over to me. He sees me. I actually thought he was looking over at times in between the fight. I got off my stool, his head goes forward, he spat on me. You know, I can have a little bit of pantomime – shouting and screaming – but somebody spitting on me? I’m not having it,” said Warrington, according to the Yorkshire Post.

“He seems to have got this thing over the last few years that since the second fight I disrespected his family, disrespected his dad and this, that, and the other. I didn’t even know that his dad was part of his training team. But it’s got to the stage now that he wants to finish my career – I’m more than happy to let him have that opportunity.”

Warrington dropped his IBF title to Luis Alberto Lopez at the Leeds Arena in December. 

Getting a direct crack at Lara's belt is not that simple.

Wood has the option of exercising an immediate rematch clause. Should he go in another direction, a Lara-Warrington trilogy fight is possible.