Fibroso
05-28-2015, 02:01 PM
Lightweight titlist Linares faces tough test against Mitchell
When Jorge Linares won a vacant lightweight world title -- his third belt in as many divisions -- on Dec. 30, he did so against a Javier Prieto, an opponent with little accomplishment who was a massive underdog.
So when Venezuela’s Linares blew Prieto out in the fourth round of what had been a one-sided fight in Tokyo, which is like Linares' second home, it came as little surprise.
But Linares (38-3, 25 KOs), 29, also a former junior lightweight and featherweight titleholder, is expected to have a much more difficult fight when he makes his first defense, a mandatory, against England’s Kevin Mitchell on Saturday at the O2 Arena in London.
"Mitchell may have hometown advantage but Linares' speed and skill will give Mitchell a considerable challenge in the ring. Make no mistake though: this will be a difficult fight for both Linares and Mitchell and one that is sure to excite."
http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2014/0604/box_g_delahoya_b1_65x90.jpg
Oscar De La Hoya
"I am excited and honored to be defending my third world championship title in London," Linares said. “I have had a great training camp focusing on the skills that I need to defeat an opponent like Kevin Mitchell. I know he is a strong and aggressive fighter, and I feel his style of fighting will suit me. This will not be an easy fight."
Golden Boy Promotions president Oscar De La Hoya, who co-promotes Linares with Akihiko Honda's Teiken Boxing, agrees that it will be a tough fight for his man.
“Mitchell may have hometown advantage, but Linares’ speed and skill will give Mitchell a considerable challenge in the ring,” De La Hoya said. “Make no mistake though: This will be a difficult fight for both Linares and Mitchell and one that is sure to excite.”
Linares is riding a seven-fight winning streak since suffering back-to-back knockout losses to Antonio DeMarco in a vacant lightweight title bout in 2011 and Sergio Thompson in a title eliminator in 2012. Mitchell is easily the best opponent Linares will have faced since those defeats.
Mitchell (39-2, 29 KOs), 30, got a lightweight title opportunity in September 2012 but was stopped in the fourth round by then-titleholder Ricky Burns. Since then, Mitchell has won six fights in a row, including an eighth-round knockout of Daniel Estrada on Jan. 31 in the elimination bout to earn the shot against Linares.
Mitchell views the fight with Linares as a make-or-break one.
"This is the making of my career," Mitchell said. “I will win this fight and create a legacy as a world champion. I know Jorge Linares is a three-weight world champion and a classy fighter -- if you allow him to do what he wants to do. But I believe I will shut him down. I've matured. I feel secure with the team around me, and I have left that party boy behind. I am enjoying [boxing] again. There's excitement in me. [Trainer] Tony Sims is getting the best out of me as a result. It's a good feeling. I know I am going to win this fight."
Linares-Mitchell is one of three world title bouts on the card, which is headlined by welterweight titleholder Kell Brook (34-0, 23 KOs), who will make his second defense just two months after his first when he meets British countryman Frankie Gavin (22-1, 13 KOs) in the main event.
Also, featherweight titlist Evgeny Gradovich (19-0-1, 9 KOs), of Russia, will make his fifth defense, a mandatory, against Lee Selby (20-1, 8 KOs) of Wales.
In another notable fight on the card, Anthony Joshua (12-0, 12 KOs), the 2012 British Olympic super heavyweight gold medalist and the No. 1 heavyweight prospect in boxing, will meet experienced American Kevin Johnson (29-6-1, 14 KOs), a former world title challenger, who has never been stopped, in a scheduled 10-round bout.
When Jorge Linares won a vacant lightweight world title -- his third belt in as many divisions -- on Dec. 30, he did so against a Javier Prieto, an opponent with little accomplishment who was a massive underdog.
So when Venezuela’s Linares blew Prieto out in the fourth round of what had been a one-sided fight in Tokyo, which is like Linares' second home, it came as little surprise.
But Linares (38-3, 25 KOs), 29, also a former junior lightweight and featherweight titleholder, is expected to have a much more difficult fight when he makes his first defense, a mandatory, against England’s Kevin Mitchell on Saturday at the O2 Arena in London.
"Mitchell may have hometown advantage but Linares' speed and skill will give Mitchell a considerable challenge in the ring. Make no mistake though: this will be a difficult fight for both Linares and Mitchell and one that is sure to excite."
http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2014/0604/box_g_delahoya_b1_65x90.jpg
Oscar De La Hoya
"I am excited and honored to be defending my third world championship title in London," Linares said. “I have had a great training camp focusing on the skills that I need to defeat an opponent like Kevin Mitchell. I know he is a strong and aggressive fighter, and I feel his style of fighting will suit me. This will not be an easy fight."
Golden Boy Promotions president Oscar De La Hoya, who co-promotes Linares with Akihiko Honda's Teiken Boxing, agrees that it will be a tough fight for his man.
“Mitchell may have hometown advantage, but Linares’ speed and skill will give Mitchell a considerable challenge in the ring,” De La Hoya said. “Make no mistake though: This will be a difficult fight for both Linares and Mitchell and one that is sure to excite.”
Linares is riding a seven-fight winning streak since suffering back-to-back knockout losses to Antonio DeMarco in a vacant lightweight title bout in 2011 and Sergio Thompson in a title eliminator in 2012. Mitchell is easily the best opponent Linares will have faced since those defeats.
Mitchell (39-2, 29 KOs), 30, got a lightweight title opportunity in September 2012 but was stopped in the fourth round by then-titleholder Ricky Burns. Since then, Mitchell has won six fights in a row, including an eighth-round knockout of Daniel Estrada on Jan. 31 in the elimination bout to earn the shot against Linares.
Mitchell views the fight with Linares as a make-or-break one.
"This is the making of my career," Mitchell said. “I will win this fight and create a legacy as a world champion. I know Jorge Linares is a three-weight world champion and a classy fighter -- if you allow him to do what he wants to do. But I believe I will shut him down. I've matured. I feel secure with the team around me, and I have left that party boy behind. I am enjoying [boxing] again. There's excitement in me. [Trainer] Tony Sims is getting the best out of me as a result. It's a good feeling. I know I am going to win this fight."
Linares-Mitchell is one of three world title bouts on the card, which is headlined by welterweight titleholder Kell Brook (34-0, 23 KOs), who will make his second defense just two months after his first when he meets British countryman Frankie Gavin (22-1, 13 KOs) in the main event.
Also, featherweight titlist Evgeny Gradovich (19-0-1, 9 KOs), of Russia, will make his fifth defense, a mandatory, against Lee Selby (20-1, 8 KOs) of Wales.
In another notable fight on the card, Anthony Joshua (12-0, 12 KOs), the 2012 British Olympic super heavyweight gold medalist and the No. 1 heavyweight prospect in boxing, will meet experienced American Kevin Johnson (29-6-1, 14 KOs), a former world title challenger, who has never been stopped, in a scheduled 10-round bout.