By Miguel Rivera
Jorge Linares believes that at the moment there is a 90 percent chance of reaching a deal for a unification fight with Mikey Garcia - where the two of them would collide at the beginning of 2018.
"I think we are more than 90 percent sure that the fight can take place in 2018," said Linares, the current lightweight champion of the World Boxing Association (WBA), in an interview with Fox Deportes.
Linares made it clear that a unification with Garcia - "is the goal for next year, it is a matter of closing the negotiations so the fight can take place."
After two making defenses from his WBA title, Linares (43-3, 27 KOs) expects to take two more fights at 135 pounds - "and then why not go up to 140 pounds, those are the plans."
Linares is satisfied with the way his year went in 2017, that he had two solid defenses against Anthony Crolla and Luke Campbell. He is currently waiting for his promoters to give him the green light to return to the gym to start preparing for his next fight.
"There is a lot of talent, a lot of youth, new generations. The best [of my generation] are leaving [the sport] and I hope to be one of the best too; The idea is not only to become world champion, but to leave a legacy," Linares said.
BoxingScene.com had previously reported that Garcia (37-0, 30 KOs) met with Golden Boy Promotions last Wednesday in Los Angeles to discuss the details of a Linares fight.
"There are places available in Los Angeles. Those dates of January 20 and 27 are the ones that [Golden Boy President] Eric Gomez mentioned, then there are others in February or March, but I would like to do the fight in Los Angeles," Garcia said to ESPN Deportes. "There are other dates available in Las Vegas, but for me and Golden Boy we would like Los Angeles. It would be an eye-catching fight in Southern California."