We attended a deluxe press conference at the Tokyo Dome Hotel on Tuesday to announce a world title to be promoted by Akihiko Honda’s Teiken Promotions on October 10. Unbeaten WBA super featherweight titlist Jorge Linares (27-0, 18 KOs), a Japan-based Venezuelan called “El Nino de Oro (Golden Boy),” will put his 130-pound throne against another Mexican, unbeaten Juan Carlos Salgado (20-0-1, 14 KOs) over twelve.
Linares, 24, previously scored an impressive stoppage of Josafat Perez in keeping his WBA belt in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, this June. It was his initial defense since the vastly talented Venezuelan acquired his second world throne. Linares replied to our press people’s questions in Japanese, saying, “Salgado is a good and strong challenger, but I’ll train hard to keep my belt. I’d like to stay in this category for two more years before moving up to the lightweight division to win my third title.”