WBC World lightweight champ Jorge Linares will defend his crown over a scheduled 12 rounds against Ivan Cano at famed El Poliedro in Caracas, Venezuela, this Saturday, October 10.
The 30-year-old, 13-year ring vet (39-3, 26 KOs) won the vacant title in December 2014 by knocking out Javier Prieto in the fourth, a title he successfully defended this May, stopping Kevin Mitchell via 10th-round TKO. “El Nino de Oro,” who won the vacant WBA World super featherweight title in November 2008 by stopping Whyber Garcia via fifth-round TKO, was born in Barinas, Venezuela, but fights out of Tokyo, Japan. This Saturday marks Golden Boy’s first bout in his native land since March 2010, when he decisioned Francisco Lorenzo. Linares, victorious in his last eight fights, hasn’t lost since March 2012, when he was stopped by Sergio Thompson via second-round TKO.
The Venezuelan by way of Japan hasn’t fought at El Poliedro since January 2004, when he decisioned Hugo Rafael Soto. The arena was perhaps made most famous by the heavyweight championship bout between George Foreman and Ken Norton in March 1974, Foreman holding firm to his crown by second-round TKO.
An eight-year pro (23-6-2, 15 KOs), Cano scored his most recent win in February, decisioning John Carlo Aparicio. “Macanon” has won two of his last six, losing two and drawing two. The upcoming bout will be only his second outside his native Mexico — in October 2012, he lost to Dierry Jean by 11th-round TKO in Canada.
Also on the card will be Alexander Ustinov defending his WBA International heavyweight title against Maurice Harris, Robert Barrera defending his WBA Fedelatin light flyweight title against Carlos Canizales, and Mayerlin Rivas defending her WBA World female bantamweight title against Galina Koleva Ivanova.
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.
