Devin Haney vs. Jorge Linares explained

Fight Date:May 29, 2021
Fight Name:Devin Haney vs. Jorge Linares
Location:Michelob Ultra Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
Titles:WBC lightweight title
Fighter1:Devin Haney
Nickname1:The Dream
Record1:25–0 (15 KOs)
Hometown1:San Francisco, California, U.S.
Height1:5 ft 8 in
Weight1:135 lbs
Style1:Orthodox
Recognition1:WBC lightweight champion
Fighter2:Jorge Linares
Nickname2:El Nino
Record2:47–5 (29 KOs)
Hometown2:Barinas, Venezuela
Height2:5 ft 8 in
Weight2:134 lbs
Style2:Orthodox
Recognition2:3-division world champion
Result:Haney wins via unanimous decision (116-112, 116-112, 115-113)

Devin Haney vs. Jorge Linares was a professional boxing match contested between WBC lightweight champion Devin Haney, and former three-division world champion Jorge Linares. The bout took place at the Michelob Ultra Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, on May 29, 2021, with Haney's WBC title on the line.[1] [2] Haney won by unanimous decision with the judges scoring the bout 116-112, 116-112, 115-113 in his favor.[3]

Background

After Haney's unanimous decision win over Cuban veteran Yuriorkis Gamboa,[4] Haney called out fellow American lightweight and newly crowned unified lightweight world champion, Teófimo López, who had recently defeated pound-for-pound star Vasiliy Lomachenko three weeks prior, saying it was 'the main fight' he wanted to make happen. However, the IBF mandated López to fight Australian George Kambosos Jr,[5] with López deciding to go in that direction to minimize the risk of being stripped of his title.

In January 2021, after Ryan Garcia captured the WBC interim lightweight title after his seventh-round stoppage over Luke Campbell,[6] the WBC were set to order Haney to defend his title against García.[7] However, García seemed to show little interest in a potential fight with Haney, and voiced his desire to face Gervonta Davis or Manny Pacquiao instead, ultimately fighting neither in the end.

After weeks of negotiations, it was announced that Haney was set to defend his WBC title against former three-division world champion Jorge Linares on May 29, 2021 in Las Vegas.[8]

Fight card

Weight Classvs.MethodRoundTimeNotes
Lightweight Devin Haney (c)def. Jorge LinaresUD12/12
Super lightweight Chantelle Cameron (c) def. Melissa HernandezTKO5/101:25
Super featherweight Azinga Fuziledef. Martin Joseph WardTKO7/122:45
Middleweight Jason Quigleydef. Shane Mosley Jr.MD10/10
Welterweight Reshat Matidef. Ryan PinoUD6/6
Featherweight Ramla Alidef. Mikayla NepelUD6/6
Light heavyweight Khalil Coedef. Nathaniel TaddTKO2/41:10
Super welterweight Amari Jonesdef. Jonathan Ryan BurrsKO1/42:56


Notes and References

  1. Web site: Devin Haney set to fight Jorge Linares in May DAZN News UK. 2021-04-02. DAZN. en.
  2. Web site: Devin Haney to defend WBC lightweight championship against Jorge Linares on May 29 in Las Vegas. 2021-04-02. Sky Sports. en.
  3. Web site: Idec. Keith. Devin Haney Boxes Past Jorge Linares For Unanimous Decision. 2021-05-30. BoxingScene.com. en-us.
  4. News: Haney beats Gamboa to defend WBC title. en-GB. BBC Sport. 2021-04-02.
  5. Web site: Rives. T. J.. 2021-01-09. IBF Orders Teofimo Lopez To Fight Kambosos. 2021-04-02. Big Fight Weekend. en-US.
  6. Web site: Garcia drops Campbell in seventh round to win lightweight title fight . Sportsnet . Associated Press . February 23, 2023 . January 2, 2021.
  7. Web site: 2021-01-05. Devin Haney vs Ryan Garcia set to be ordered by WBC, but Garcia eyes Gervonta Davis. 2021-04-02. talkSPORT. en-US.
  8. Web site: Idec. Keith. Hearn: Linares Is Breakout Fight That'll Show Devin Haney Is Best Lightweight On Planet. 2021-04-02. BoxingScene.com. en-us.