By Miguel Rivera

WBA lightweight champion Jorge Linares does not expect that his upcoming opponent, Mercito Gesta, will prevents him from achieving his dreams in 2018 - which is to land a high profile fight against either Mikey García or Vasyl Lomachenko.

Linares returns on January 27 from the Forum in Inglewood in an HBO televised main event. He is currently training hard in the gym in Las Vegas with coach Ismael Salas.

"This year should be the most important year, I've imagined it on many occasions, great opportunities will come, rumors of big fights are being discussed. 2018 will be quite important for me, we have time to make three fights and be able to get what is desired, but the most important thing is to win on January 27," said Linares to ESPN Deportes.

Linares (43-3, 27 KO's) is not overlooking Gesta (31-1-2, 17 KO's) and remembers training with him in the past at the Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood, California.

"The truth is that I respect Gesta, he's hungry and he's worked hard to get the opportunity. I've seen him a lot, I had the opportunity to train with him in 2010 when we were with Freddie Roach at the Wild Card, we had a couple of sparring rounds, he's good, left-handed, strong," Linares said.

"Nothing impossible for me, the experience I had at the time when we boxed with Gesta and the one I have now is quite different, I have shown it in the camp and I will show it in this great fight."

In fact, Linares believes that he is going through the best moment of his pro career and his intends to keep the positive run rolling forward for as long as possible.

"I still have a lot to show. I always say that every day I learn something new, whether it's a combination, some details, but I think I've going through my best moment as a champion, as a veteran boxer, with experience, maturity, so for me this is my best moment," Linares said.