By Ryan Maquiñana
Former world champion Jorge Linares will likely return to the ring on Oct. 6 in a ten-round Fox Sports-televised card against fellow lightweight Hector Velazquez at the Sacramento Memorial Auditorium with unbeaten welterweight Yoshihiro Kamegai on a ten-round co-feature, according to Don Chargin and co-promoter Rafael “Paco” Damian.
Hometown featherweight prospect Guy Robb and undefeated junior welterweight up-and-comer Jonathan Chicas from Nearby San Francisco are being considered for the undercard.
“I got the OK from TV and Golden Boy, and it looks like we got the money to work out. After the weekend is done, we will make sure the last things are finalized, but it looks clear. We’re excited to have this show come to Sacramento,” Damian told BoxingScene.com.
“Paco is correct. We just have to hammer out some last few things with the Auditorium by Tuesday, but if I had to give a number, it’s 95 percent done,” Chargin said via telephone.
Linares is co-promoted by Teiken and Golden Boy, the latter for whom Chargin is a consultant and has worked with on several shows in Northern California over the past two years. The Memorial Auditorium holds special significance for Chargin, who has been promoting shows at the venue since the 1950s.
“I’ve had a lot of great times there, and the only thing missing is [Chargin’s late wife] Lorraine,” Chargin added. “In that building, I promoted Tony Lopez, Loreto Garza, Willie Jorrin, Pete Ranzany, Joey Lopes, and now what a great way to bring it back with Linares and Kamegai.”
Ryan Maquiñana writes a weekly boxing column for CSNBayArea.com. He is a full member of the Boxing Writers Association of America and the Ratings Panel for Ring Magazine. E-mail him at rmaquinana@gmail.com, check out his blog at Norcalboxing.net, or follow him on Twitter: @RMaq28.