Linares Admits He Needs Change, Roach May Be Gone

By Jhonny Gonzalez

Former champion Jorge "El Niño De Oro" Linares (31-3, 20KOs) admits some changes are necessary upon his return to the ring, after suffering a two round TKO to Sergio "Yeyo" Thompson (22-2, 20KOs) in Cancun on Saturday night. In a telephone interview with the Daily Leader in Sports, Linares vowed to fight on.

"I will continue boxing, but we have to improve a few things. I have to speak with Golden Boy Promotions to figure out [my next move]," Linares said.

The boxer made it clearly that he likely needs a new trainer, which means Freddie Roach is on his way out as many expected. Linares was advised by his promoter, Oscar De La Hoya, to hire a trainer who can dedicate the necessary time to a full training camp. Roach, the most well known trainer in the sport, has a lot of fighters under his belt and he is often forced to train several boxers at once.

Linares was not happy with the Thompson loss. He says the Mexican boxer used his head to open up a nasty cut that required several stitches to close.

"In the first round I was on the verge of a knockout, but in the second I got hit with a headbutt and the wound began to bleed immediately. I went down to the mat and tried to tell them [about the headbutt], but the doctor, without taking a good look at the injury, displayed the red card [to stop the fight]," Linares said.