By Ben Jacobs
WBA lightweight champion Jorge Linares (42-3, 27 KOs) recently arrived in London where he will base himself for his next training camp with a view to fighting in September or October.
While an opponent has yet to be announced, Linares did confirm to Panamanian journalist Marcelino Castillo of Canal de Boxeo that his trainer, Ismael Salas, will join him in London shortly to continue the training camp.
In his last outing in March, Linares won a unanimous decision rematch against Anthony Crolla in what was his third fight in the United Kingdom.
Early speculation is that the Venezuelan could face yet another Englishman in the form of Luke Campbell, however that remains pure conjecture at this stage.
Gavin Glicksman, writing in the UK’s Mirror newspaper recently, talked of the possibility of former WBA heavyweight champion David Haye linking up with Cuban trainer Salas, something that would be much more feasible given that Salas is due to join Linares in the English capital.
Haye returned to the sport last January after being inactive since 2012, and was being trained by Shane McGuigan - who replaced Haye's longtime trainer Adam Booth.
Haye and McGuigan parted ways a few weeks ago. The two had worked together for only three fights. Reportedly, the two had a disagreement after McGuigan had asked Haye to retire following the two-division champion's stoppage loss in March to Tony Bellew, who was moving up from cruiserweight. Haye ruptured his Achilles during the fight and the contest was eventually stopped during the eleventh. Haye aims to return by year's end, possibly in a rematch with Bellew.
