Vasyl Lomachenko finally has a dance partner. The seemingly untouchable, even avoided southpaw sensation will … read more
If things turn out as promoters Bob Arum and Oscar De La Hoya want them to, 2018 could turn out to be one of the best boxing years in a lone time, big fights-wise. We’ve just heard how GGG-Canelo II is on for May 5, and there are talks underway regarding another fight between pound-for-pound stars going at it.
WBA World lightweight champion Jorge Linares (44-3, 27 KOs) had a harder time than expected in defeating #15 WBA Mercito Gesta (31-2-2, 17 KOs) by a 12 round unanimous decision in a stay busy fight at The Forum in Inglewood, California. The scores were 118-110, 117-110 and 118-110.
(Photo Credit: Tom Hogan – Hogan Photos/Golden Boy Promotions)
Fighters on the special double main event of Matthysse vs. Kiram and Linares vs. Gesta held a final press conference today ahead of the explosive Golden Boy Promotions card that will take place this Jan. 27 at the “Fabulous” Forum in Inglewood, Calif. In the first part of this spectacular main event, former interim WBC Super Lightweight Champion Lucas “La Maquina” Matthysse (38-4, 35 KOs) of Chubut, Argentina will take on undefeated Thai superstar Tewa Kiram (38-0, 28 KOs) in a 12-round battle for the vacant WBA Welterweight World Championship. In the second main event, Jorge “El Nino De Oro” Linares (43-3, 27 KOs) will face Mercito “No Mercy” Gesta (31-1-2, 17 KOs) in a 12-round defense of his WBA and Ring Magazine Lightweight Titles. The event will be televised live on HBO Boxing After Dark beginning at 10:30 p.m. ET/PT.
Lucas Matthysse is ready to throw his name into the mix at welterweight when he takes on undefeated Tiwa Kiram for the vacant WBA welterweight world title.
The pair clash this Saturday night exclusively live on BoxNation from the Forum in Inglewood, California, with Argentine Matthysse moving up from light-welterweight to take on the relatively unknown and untested 25-year-old Kiram.
PABA Welterweight Champion Tewa Kiram (38-0. 28 KOs) and lightweight contender Mercito “No Mercy” Gesta (31-1-2, 17 KOs) hosted a media workout today at Westside Boxing Club in Los Angeles, Calif. ahead of their respective world championship bouts. Kiram will take on former interim WBC Super Lightweight Champion Lucas “La Maquina” Matthysse (38-4, 35 KOs) in a 12-round fight for the vacant WBA Welterweight World Title, while Gesta will take on WBA, WBC Diamond and Ring Magazine World Champion Jorge “El Nino De Oro” Linares (43-3, 27 KOs) in a 12-round battle. The action takes place on Saturday, Jan. 27 in a special double main event at the “Fabulous” Forum in Inglewood, Calif. The doubleheader will be televised live on HBO Boxing After Dark®beginning at 10:30 p.m. ET/PT.
According to Mikey Garcia the big title fight unification showdown between he and Jorge Linares will still happen, this summer – this despite the fact that both 135 pound champions will fight against separate opposition in January and February respectively. Unbeaten Garcia will look to capture his fourth title in as many weight divisions when he will challenge Sergey Lipinets for a 140 pound belt on Feb. 10, while Linares will defend his lightweight belt against Mercito Gesta on January 27.
Mikey Garcia and Jorge Linares could be facing each other in the summer at 135 after the 2 of them get done with their interim fights. Garcia (37-0, 30 KOs) wants to fight for the IBF light welterweight title against IBF 140 pound champion Sergey Lipinets (13-0, 10 KOs) on February 10 at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.
While there is a growing sense that many top fighters are, if not exactly running away from Vasyl Lomachenko, not too enthusiastic at the idea of climbing into the ring with the Ukrainian southpaw, this is not the case with Jorge Linares. The reigning WBA and Ring Magazine lightweight king, in training for his January 27 defence against Mercito Gesta, has put it out on social media that after this fight is done and dusted, he and Lomachenko can fight:
As per a news piece by Dan Rafael of Espn.com, talks had begun a weeks or so ago for a lightweight unification clash between Mikey Garcia and Jorge Linares, to have taken place early next year some time. Well, it ain’t gonna happen after all.
Eric Gomez of Golden Boy met with Garcia himself and, surprisingly, Garcia turned the fight, or the fight offer down.