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.
But after that, assuming both men come through okay, Garcia says “it is still the goal” for he and Linares to meet some time in the summer.
“January is not the right month and that is why we have both decided to take an interim fight,” Garcia told Sky Sports. “We both want this fight, we both want to fight each other, so why not take advantage and wait a few months and generate more money and interest than we would have in January? That is why we have both decided to take an interim fight. So when these are done we will sit down again. It is still the goal. Hopefully we don’t have any cuts or injuries and we both have victories. Then we can meet in the summer.”
It is not an absolute certainty that the two classy lightweights fight, but as Garcia says, both he and Linares want it. Nothing should be planned too far ahead in this sport, though, and it is possible, although unlikely, that Garcia or Linares loses in an upset early this year. But let’s hope not (although fans of Garcia and Lipinets will not be thinking this way, obviously) – and let’s hope the two best 135 pounders on the planet do indeed meet up in what could certainly prove to be The Fight of The Year for 2018.
And as to whether the winner might then be willing to get in there with Vasyl Lomachenko in yet another potential Super Fight…..well, once again, let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves.