Jorge Linares Looks to Unify Titles

While the champions are not exactly household names, these are exciting times in the 135-pound division. (Photo: Courtesy)

WBC lightweight champion Jorge “El Nino de Oro” Linares (40-3, 27 KO) will be looking to unify the 135-pound titles, per Miguel Rivera of Boxing Scene. The likely targets are two English champions. WBA titleholder Anthony “Million Dollar” Crolla (31-4-3) or undefeated WBO champion “Turbo” Terry Flanagan (30-4, 12 KO) are said to be the likely opposition.

Linares is promoted by Golden Boy and the company’s matchmaker David Diaz will be traveling to the United Kingdom in hopes of inking a deal with Crolla or Flanagan.

“We will evaluate the two options, to unify with WBA champion Anthony Crolla, and with the champion of the WBO, Terry Flanagan. Both options are very interesting fights. They’re looking for us to fight in England and will see what is best for Jorge, but this could in his future,” said Diaz.

Linares is currently on a nine-fight win streak since losing back-to-back fights via stoppage to Antonio DeMarco and Sergio Thompson in 2011 and 2012. He captured the vacant WBC crown with a fourth-round KO win over Javier Prieto in December 2014.

During his win streak, he’s won all but two of his fights by stoppage.

Crolla is coming off an impressive seventh-round KO win over Ismael Barroso on May 7. It was his first defense of the WBA crown since winning it from Darleys Perez in a rematch in November 2015.

Flanagan won a relatively easy unanimous decision over Derry Mathews in March. Both men would seemingly be in play for Linares from a time standpoint. We’ll just have to wait and see if a deal can be struck to get the fighters in the ring.

Chances are, if either fight can be made, the winner could fight the other champion further unify the titles in the not-too-distant future.

While the champions are not exactly household names, these are exciting times in the 135-pound division. It’s always refreshing win the champions of a weight class are pursuing unification.

This article was penned by the author who is not related to the WBA and the statements, expressions or opinions referenced herein are that of the author alone and not the WBA.