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WBA lightweight champion Jorge Linares (42-3, 27 KOs) recently arrived in London where he will base himself for his next training camp with a view to fighting in September or October.
Diego Chaves had at one point been scheduled to face Britain’s Kell Brook for the IBF welterweight title, although that fight was cancelled when the Sheffield man pulled out through injury. In a previous interview with BoxingScene.com, Chaves expressed his admiration for Brook’s willingness to fight Gennady Golovkin at middleweight last September, but is of the belief that that decision may have been detrimental to his career.
On Monday, it was reported by BoxingScene.com that the International Boxing Federation [IBF] ordered a rematch between Jose Uzcategui and Andre Dirrell. On May 20, Uzcategui was disqualified by referee Bill Clancy for landing a knockout punch after the bell on Dirrell, a contest that took place for the interim IBF world title at super middleweight.
After enduring a difficult couple of years in which he was unable to secure important fights at the level with which he had been used to, Argentina's Diego Chaves is now a promotional free agent and looking at options, possibly in the United States. Chaves competed last Saturday night in Buenos Aires, attaining a second round stoppage win over experienced Jean Carlos Prada of Venezuela. Prior to that he fought in November and July of 2016 following a 19 month lay-off after his draw with Timothy Bradley.
A much talked about rematch between Vasyl Lomachenko (8-1, 6 KOs) and Orlando ‘Siri’ Salido (44-13-4, 31 KOs) could be close to fruition. Earlier tonight Lance Pugmire of the Los Angeles Times tweeted that the Staples Center in California is on hold for August 5 with a view to hosting that bout.
Jose Uzcategui (26-1, 22 KOs) has been patient, but after waiting a long time for his shot at the International Boxing Federation (IBF) title, he is ready to unleash his frustration on Andre Dirrell (25-2, 16 KOs) on May 20. The Venezuelan, who resides in Mexico, last fought in August of 2016 when he defeated Fabiano Peña via second round knockout. Despite the ring absence, he has been training in San Diego, California and in Big Bear where he sparred the likes of talented super middleweight David Benavidez.
Middleweight contender David Lemieux (37-3, 33 KOs) is still be enjoying his spectacular early knockout of the year contender over Curtis Stevens from earlier this month. Lemieux is hoping to land a shot at his Golden Boy Promotions stablemate, Saul "Caenlo" Alvarez (48-1-1, 34 KOs).
Those that predicted that Gennady Golovkin would comfortably beat Saúl ‘Canelo’ Álvarez should they meet may have a different opinion after Golovkin’s tense victory over Danny Jacobs last Saturday. While Golovkin got the decision, various respected observers of the sport felt that New Yorker Jacobs had done enough to warrant the win.
The belief emerging from Jorge Linares’ team is evident. While the Venezuelan put in what some describe as his career best display last September against Anthony Crolla, his trainer Ismael Salas told BoxingScene.com that this Saturday’s rematch could be even better for the WBA lightweight world champion. “Honestly, there’s always things you can improve on, but this training camp has been the longest and most solid,” Salas explained, from his hotel in Manchester.
Former world title contender Lucas Matthysse (37-4, 34 KOs) is hard at work training in Argentina in preparation for his comeback fight against Emmanuel Taylor (20-4, 14 KOs) which takes place on May 6. The bout is on the undercard of the huge clash between Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez and Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.