The packed lightweight division will have its top two fighters collide this Saturday in the Big Apple as Jorge Linares and Vasyl Lomachenko square off in a highly anticipated title fight. Both boxers have not suffered a loss in quite some time. Linares las suffered a defeat in 2012, while Lomachenko last tasted a setback in 2014. The event will be aired live on ESPN, which means you don’t have to pay for a single dollar to watch this championship encounter, leaving you with plenty of dough to wager on the fight.
Linares, 32, wants recognition in the United States and what better way to get it than by beating Lomachenko in New York. That’s going to be easier said than done, but Linares is riding a wave of momentum having won all of his last 13 fights. The Venezuelan last fought in January, beating Filipino Mercito Gesta in a WBA title fight in Inglewood. Prior to that, he earned a split decision win over Like Campbell – also in Inglewood – in September of last year. Lomachenko is the most dangerous opponent in Linares’ career thus far. Linares owns a huge four-inch advantage over Lomachenko plus he also stands two-inch taller. Linares has been fighting in the division for some time now, too, as he has eight consecutive wins in the 135-pound limit. Linares has 44 wins with 27 knockouts and three losses with zero draws.
Lomachenko, 30, is considered as the world’s top pound-for-pound fighter in the game today, and he will look to show everyone why when he takes on Linares. Lomachenko is a two-time gold medalist who only took three fights to become a world champion when he defeated Gary Russell Jr. for the vacant WBO featherweight title in 2014. More recently, Lomachenko defeated Guillermo Rigondeaux with the latter’s corner stopping the fight. It’s the fourth straight time that a Lomachenko fight was ended via corner stoppage with the Ukrainian winning the bout, causing the Ukrainian to quip following the fight that he should probably change his name to “NoMaschenko.” Lomachenko is 10-1-0 with eight knockout victories. His power should pose problem for Linares whose chin is a bit susceptible; Linares has been knocked out three times in his career.
Writer’s Prediction
Lomachenko wins via knockout in the 8th.
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