Featherweight contender Mauricio Lara returned to action and scored a brutal third round knockout of Emilio Sanchez in the third round at the Pechanga Arena San Diego in San Diego, California. (photos by Ed Mulholland)

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In a fight where Sanchez seemed to be coming on, Lara unloaded with a brutal combination that put him down and out. The referee quickly waved off the fight. Sanchez had also been down in the first round.

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Lara (24-2-1 17 KOs) made a welcome return to the ring following his nasty cut in his rematch with Josh Warrington. The Mexican traveled to Yorkshire in September to take on the Leeds man at Headingley Stadium in a rematch having stunned the boxing world by stopping for former world ruler in the ninth round of their clash in February in London. The rematch was heating up before an accidental headclash in the second round left Lara with a nasty gash over his left eye and the contest had to be waved off.

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