By Miguel Rivera

Jorge Linares, the WBA's lightweight world champion, will face the biggest challenge of his career on the May 12th at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

On that day, Linares will go up against two-time gold medial winner Vasyl Lomachenko.

But according to Linares' longime coach, Ismael Salas, the Venezuelan boxer will likely have a new trainer in his corner.

 

There are scheduling conflicts at play, which created the current situation.

Salas is in London, where he is currently training David Haye for his May 5th rematch with Tony Bellew at the O2 Arena. Salas had started training Haye for that contest, before the Linares-Lomachenko deal was finalized and very few expected the contest to actually push through.

Before Salas had accepted the assignment to train Haye, Linares did not have a scheduled fight and gave the trainer his blessing to accept the position.

Linares, who is currently training in Tokyo, was initially scheduled to fly over to London to train side by side with Haye and Salas.

Those plans have now changed, says Salas.

Linares has decided to continue working in Japan and then switch the second stage of his preparation to Las Vegas - and remain training there until the fight.

More than likely Linares did not want to adjust to the numerous time difference between Japan, the UK and New York City.

"It seems that (Linares) will not come to London and the second part of the camp will be held in Las Vegas until the moment of traveling to New York. If that is confirmed, as it seems to be happening, I will not be in his corner," Salas told ESPN Deportes.

Salas is considered by many as the main factor in the resurgence of the career of Linares, since he took the over his corner in place of Freddie Roach, after the boxer suffered two dramatic consecutive losses between 2011 and 2012 against Antonio DeMarco and Sergio Thompson. Since then, the Venezuelan has not lost and has achieved two championships.