By Hisao Adachi

Former champion Jorge Linares (35-3, 23KOs) is hoping to eventually face WBC interim-champion Omar Figueroa (22-0-1, 17KOs) later in the year.

Up first for Linares, is a fight with Japan's Nihito Arakawa (24-3, 16KOs), who went to war for twelve rounds with Figueroa last year. The fight will take place on March 8th as part of the Saul Alvarez-Alfredo Angulo undercard at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

On the same card, talks are ongoing for Figueroa to face Canelo's brother Ricardo Alvarez (23-2-3, 14KOs).

If they both pull through on the show, Linares would like to land Figueroa in the following match.