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Mercito Gesta challenges WBA lightweight titlist Jorge Linares later tonight. The HBO televised fight will serve as the co-featured attraction to the welterweight showdown between Lucas Matthysse and Tewa Kiram, who battle for the vacant WBA "regular" title.
Promoter Bob Arum of Top Rank takes issue with anyone who thinks that he will be hesitant in making a match-up between his client Terence Crawford (32-0, 23 KOs), and current IBF welterweight titlist Errol Spence (23-0, 20 KOs). Last week, promoter Lou DiBella - in the aftermath of Spence's stoppage win over Lamont Peterson at Barclays in Brooklyn - expressed his doubts about Arum's willingness to place Crawford in the ring with 'The Truth.'
Jorge Linares defends his WBA lightweight title tomorrow night from the Forum in Inglewood, California, against Mercito Gesta in an HBO televised fight. In recent interviews, Linares has expressed heavy interest in colliding with two possible opponents - WBC champion Mikey Garcia and WBO super featherweight champion Vasyl Lomachenko, who is moving up to 135-pounds in the near future.
So is Manny Pacquiao's return to the ring solidified for the spring? "I don't want to say what I shouldn't say," said Pacquiao's promoter Bob Arum, who was careful in choosing his words to BoxingScene.com.
With their recent roll-out of fights in the upcoming months, Showtime has once again re-affirmed their commitment to the sport. And in the States, there may be no network that has put more more into their boxing franchise in recent years.
It was announced by Showtime that on May 19th, Keith Thurman is making his return to the ring in Brooklyn, New York at the Barclay Center - making the first defense of his unified WBC, WBA welterweight crown since joining the titles last March, at the same venue, with a decision over Danny Garcia. Also that same evening, WBC light heavyweight titlist Adonis Stevenson will be taking on Badou Jack at a venue to be announced in Canada.
While there were over two dozen boxers in attendance at Cipriani's in New York City on Wednesday as Showtime announced their upcoming boxing schedule, it doesn't mean that some of those who were absent are not a part of the networks plans. Stephen Espinoza, who was just recently elevated as the President of Showtime Sports and Event Programming, told BoxingScene.com:
This Saturday night from the Forum in Inglewood, California, Lucas Matthysse faces Tewa Kiram for the vacant WBA "regular" welterweight title. For the 35-year-old from Argentina, a victory would mean picking up his first major world title belt. Matthysse had failed in his two previous title attempts - against Danny Garcia in 2013 and Viktor Postol in 2015.
WBA lightweight titlist Jorge Linares, who faces Mercito Gesta this Saturday night on HBO from the Forum in Inglewood, eked past British southpaw Luke Campbell in his last fight in September. If not for a second round knockdown, Linares (43-3, 27 KO's) would have to had to settle for a draw as he won by the scores of 115-112, 113-115 and 114-113.
There has been talk of a showdown between Top Rank stablemates Vasyl Lomachenko (10-1, 8 KOs) and Manny Pacquiao (59-7-2, 38 KOs). For the time being, this fight will not be happening as Lomachenko's father/trainer, Anatoly, is against his son moving up directly from super lightweight (130-pounds) all the way up to the junior welterweight limit of 140-pounds.