Jorge Linares vs. Zaur Abdullaev - February 19, 2022

[Ruthless-RKO]

WBA Orders Michel Rivera-Jorge Linares Title Eliminator; Linares-Zaur Abdullaev Bout Already In Play

Jorge Linares has his options for one final shot at a major title.

The former three-division titlist was ordered by the World Boxing Association (WBA) to begin negations with Dominican Republic’s Michel Rivera (22-0, 14 KOs) for a lightweight title elimination bout. The two sides have until December 17 to come to terms to avoid a purse bid hearing, where the winning bid will be split 50/50 between Linares and Rivera as the two highest ranked available challengers.

It’s highly doubtful that talks reach that point, if such talks even commence.

Linares (47-6, 29 KOs) has long served a favorite son of the WBA, having held the sanctioning body’s title at junior lightweight and lightweight along with having reigned as a WBC titlist at featherweight and lightweight. The 36-year-old Tokyo-based Venezuelan is currently ranked number-three at lightweight both with the WBA and WBC, while Rivera is ranked number-two by the WBA.

While there is a good chance of Rivera traveling the WBA path towards a title, Linares instead seeks the most lucrative options in the twilight of his career.

Terms were already reached for a fight between Linares and former title challenger Zaur Abdullaev (14-1, 8KOs), whose recently claimed WBC Silver lightweight title will be at stake for the fight to take place on a yet-to-be-determined date in Russia. German Titov, Abdullaev’s promoter petitioned with the WBC for the fight to serve as a final eliminator, though rejected by the WBC as the lightweight title picture remains muddled.

Regardless, it appears to be a path that Linares will choose. The fight will be his first since a 12-round loss to reigning WBC lightweight titlist Devin Haney (26-0, 15 KOs) this past May at Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas.

Rivera remained unbeaten following his most recent win, a ten-round decision over Jose Matias Romero on October 30 also at Michelob ULTRA Arena. The win preserved his place in the WBA rankings, having earned the spot in an off-the-canvas, eighth-round knockout of Spain’s Jon Fernandez on July 3 at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California. The fight was classified as an eliminator for the number-two spot, with the assurance of next fighting for the mandatory contender slot.

In the event that Linares abandons talks, the WBA will call for a new eliminator between Rivera and the next highest ranked available challenger.

Rolando ‘Rolly’ Romero (14-0, 12 KOs) is the number-one contender but also currently the subject of a police investigation surrounding allegations of sexual assault. The active case caused Romero to lose out on an already scheduled challenge of WBA “World” lightweight titlist Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis, who now faces Isaac ‘Pitbull’ Cruz (22-1-1, 15KOs) on December 5 from Staples Center in Los Angeles.

Former three-division titlist Vasiliy Lomachenko (15-2, 11 KOs) is currently ranked number-four by the WBA, with the opportunity to advance should he beat former IBF lightweight titlist Richard Commey on December 11 in New York City. After Lomachenko is another former IBF lightweight beltholder in number-five ranked Miguel Vazquez and unbeaten contender Roman Andreev at number-six.

Exactly who the mandatory challenger would next face remains unclear. Davis holds the WBA “World” title, while lineal lightweight championTeofimo Lopez (16-0, 12 KOs) holds the WBA “Super” title as well as the IBF/WBO belts which are on the line versus IBF mandatory challenger George Kambosos Jr. (19-0, 10 KOs) on November 27.

The WBA has remained committed to reducing its number of recognized titlists. Theoretically, the next move would be to order the winners of Lopez-Kambosos and Davis-Cruz to meet in a title consolidation clash. There exists the possibility of Lopez moving up in weight, which—should he beat Kambosos—would render the WBA “Super” title vacant and with the Davis-Cruz winner to become the sole recognized WBA lightweight titlist.

It’s just one more issue the WBA will need to resolve, in addition to securing an available opponent for Rivera should Linares-Abdullaev move forward.

[DrDuke]

A good matchup. Probably the fresher Abdullaev wins, but anything is possible here.

[margaret thatcher]

ya at this point in linares career this is an interesting fight for him

[Ruthless-RKO]

Linares-Abdullaev Set For February 22 In Ekaterinburg, WBC Semifinal Eliminator

Jorge Linares will once again hit the road for the next step in his quest to become a three-time lightweight titlist.

Terms have been reached for a fight between Linares and Zaur Abdullaev, with the long-discussed lightweight bout now official. German Titov, Abdullaev’s promoter informed Boxing Scene that the WBC lightweight semifinal eliminator will take place February 22 in Ekaterinburg, Russia.

An agreement was in place for several weeks, though initially with ambitious hopes of staging the fight before year’s end. Titov attended the annual WBC Convention in November with hopes of gaining approval for the fight to serve as a final eliminator to the WBC lightweight title currently held by Devin Haney (26-0, 15KOs), who next faces Joseph ‘JoJo’ Diaz this Saturday at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

The suggestion was politely shot down, though with the sanctioning body agreeing to a scenario where the winner could become eligible to then participate in a final eliminator. The bout will also come with Abdullaev’s WBC “Silver” title at stake.

The well-traveled Linares (47-6, 29KOs) will now fight in his ninth country over the course of his storied 19-year pro career. The 36-year-old former three-division titlist from Venezuela—who now lives and trains in Tokyo—spent more than half of his career in Tokyo, though with his U.S. debut resulting in his first title win, a tenth-round stoppage of former junior featherweight titlist Oscar Larios to claim the vacant WBC featherweight title in July 2007.

Linares—who had already fought in Japan, Panama, Venezuela, South Korea and Argentina by that point—then made his way to Mexico before moving up in weight to claim a super featherweight belt. The reign was short-lived, suffering a first-round knockout to then-unbeaten Juan Carlos Salgado upon his return home to Japan in October 2009. More than five years later would come his third divisional reign, winning a lightweight title in Japan in 2014 before making his way to England for wins over Kevin Mitchell and twice over Anthony Crolla in a span of four fights.

The fight with Abdullaev checks Russia off his bucket list, though with the potential to become a frequent participant in the Eastern Bloc. A win would leave Linares—who split with Golden Boy Promotions on amicable terms following his title fight loss to Haney this past May in Las Vegas—with the opportunity to do future business with RCC Boxing Promotions.

Abdullaev (14-1, 8KOs) will enjoy hometown advantage, as has been the case for all but one career fight. That occasion resulted in his lone career defeat, suffering a fourth-round stoppage to Haney in their September 2019 WBC interim lightweight title fight at Madison Square Garden Hulu Theater in New York City. Haney was subsequently upgraded to “World” titlist and will attempt his fourth title defense this weekend, more than six months after outpointing Linares.

Three straight wins have followed Abdullaev’s only loss, incuding a twelve-round decision over former titlist Dejan Zlaticanin this past September in Ekaterinburg.

Linares was also presented with the option of pursuing the WBA lightweight title he held for 20 months before losing to Vasiliy Lomachenko in May 2018 at MSG Hulu Theater. On the table for the former four-time titlist was an ordered title eliminator with unbeaten Dominican contender Michel Rivera. The two sides were instructed to enter a 30-day negotiation period which began November 18, though Linares was already committed to the fight with Abdullaev by that point.

Linares is currently ranked number-three by the WBC, with Abdullaev one spot below at number-four. The winner will plead his case to surpass current number-two contender Ryan Garcia (21-0, 18KOs), who also plans to return in the first quarter of 2022, ambitiously calling out newly crowned lineal/WBA/IBF/WBO/WBC “Franchise” champion George Kambosos Jr. (20-0, 10KOs) who dethroned Teofimo Lopez (16-1, 12KOs) on November 27 in New York City.

Lomachenko (15-2, 11KOs) is ranked number-one by the WBC, risking his place in line in a dangerous showdown with fellow former champ Richard Commey (30-3, 27KOs) on December 11 at Madison Square Garden.

[Ruthless-RKO]

[Ruthless-RKO]

Press Release | Jorge Linares vs. Zaur Abdullaev Picked Up By ESPN+

Three former world champions highlight an international fight marathon this Saturday, Feb. 19, live and exclusively on ESPN+. It begins with Breakfast and Boxing from RCC Boxing Academy in Yekaterinburg, Russia, as Zaur Abdullaev defends his WBC Silver lightweight belt in a 12-rounder against three-weight world champion Jorge Linares.

Linares-Abdullaev fight action begins at 9:30 a.m. ET/6:30 a.m. PT, which precedes the highly anticipated grudge match between former world champions Amir Khan and Kell Brook. Coverage of Khan-Brook from AO Arena in Manchester, England, starts at 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT and includes the vacant WBO female junior middleweight world title bout between Natasha Jonas (10-2-1, 7 KOs) and Chris Namus (25-6, 8 KOs), English super middleweight champion Charlie Schofield (17-1, 1 KO) defending his belt in 10-rounder versus Germaine Brown (11-0, 3 KOs), and the heavyweight professional debut of British Olympic bronze medalist Frazer Clarke.

Linares (47-6, 29 KOs) has been a professional for nearly 20 years, winning world titles at featherweight, junior lightweight and lightweight. During his lightweight run, he’s defeated the likes of Anthony Crolla and Kevin Mitchell while giving pound-for-pound great Vasiliy Lomachenko a stern test before being knocked out in the 10th round of their May 2018 matchup. Linares is coming off last May’s competitive decision defeat to rising star Devin Haney. Abdullaev (14-1, 8 KOs), who has won three fights since a TKO loss to Haney, earned the WBC Silver title last September with a unanimous decision over former world champion Dejan Zlaticanin.

ESPN+-streamed undercard action from Russia includes a 12-round WBA 130-pound title eliminator between Mark Uranov (20-2-1, 10 KOs) and Angel Rodriguez (19-1, 10 KOs), and Russian junior welterweight standout Ivan Kozlovsky (4-0, 2 KOs) in a 10-round test against Zoravor Petrosian (12-1, 5 KOs).

[goose 5]

I'm a big fan of Linares' but I'm taking Abdullaev to win this one-a stoppage wouldn't surprise me.

[Dylanc]

I can't wait for this one! I good fight hopefully. I feel like Linares should win, but Abdullaev will pull it off.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Fight Night!

Takes place in Russia. So won’t be too long.

ESPN+ are showing them then will be followed by whatever is left of the Khan card.

[oogiebe]

Trying to watch this, but the audio is boring AF.

Rodriguez just beat Uramov in a decent scrap, but the lack of crowd and the incessantly boring announcing almost had me out.

[victor-romeo]

Even though Linares well past his prime, always a treat to watch Linares fight, I am hoping for him to get a KO here.

[victor-romeo]

Going into the 12th and final round my espn+ stream cut out.erghhh..

[DrDuke]

Nice fight. It was competetive until the 8th round. Abdullaev broke Jorge down later on, worked well on the body, although a bit low sometimes. Stopped Linares in the 12th.

[Fightnight Scores]

Going into the 12th and final round my espn+ stream cut out.erghhh..

....and then missed the stoppage I believe!

[goose 5]

Unreal ! stream went down before the last round started. It's still down. Missed the best part.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Dropped twice and stopped on his feet..

[Fightnight Scores]

Sad to see Linares in there. One of my favourite fighters in recent years.

[DrDuke]

Sad to see Linares in there. One of my favourite fighters in recent years.

Time's up for him.

[goose 5]

Stream is back on but it stops after round 11 ! Can't believe this.

[Ruthless-RKO]

2nd KD seemed heavy.

[DrDuke]

2nd KD seemed heavy.

Both of them were like that, I'd say.

[margaret thatcher]

zaur is pretty good, really fast hands, was a nice win for haney to beat him like he did

[goose 5]

Anyone here know what the scorecards were ?

[Mexi-Box]

Linares way past it now. He can't keep getting stopped like that.

[margaret thatcher]

linares 107-102
linares 106-103
zaur 106-103

just saw that these were the scores....so zaur needed that huge last round. i had it a bit closer at 105-104 jorge, so zaur wouldve won on my card even if jorge survived the kds