By Ryan Burton
WBA/WBC/Ring lightweight champion Jorge Linares (42-3) dominated Anthony Crolla in their March rematch. Linares dropped Crolla in the seventh round and controlled most of the fight to win a twelve round unanimous decision, which closed out their series 2-0.
By getting the fight completed in the first quarter of the year and coming out unscathed, the Venezuelan hopes for a total of three fights in 2017.
"I would love to fight at the end of July or early August. There is enough time where I think that I can fight two more ones this year," said Linares.
The WBC champion in recess could be ordered to face unbeaten WBC champion Mikey Garcia next but there has also been a lot of speculation that WBO super featherweight champion Vasyl Lomachenko (8-1, 6 KOs) could move up in weight to face Linares or WBO champion Terry Flanagan of the UK.
Earlier this month, Lomachenko battered and stopped former WBA champion Jason Sosa, and now a lot of people view him as the next boxer to eventually become the top pound-for-pound fighter in the sport.
While Lomachenko is considered one of the top five pound-for-pound fighters in the world, Linares is very confident that he has what it takes to beat him.
"I know he's a great fighter. He's a southpaw, he's very talented and fast but believe me - it isn't impossible for me. I'm a smart fighter who is also very fast. It would be a very interesting fight," Linares told BoxingScene.com.
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