Jorge Linares : ATG?

[Mr. Ryan]

What makes you think he'd beat Guerrero? A fighter who has fought better competition and is certainly as physically talented, maybe more so, than Linares?

Which Linares fights should I watch? I have seen each of his last three fights and he has certainly looked spectacular in those victories.

So educate me. Why does he beat Guerrero and which Linares fights that I have missed should I watch?

Linares is a very good fighter. Shawn is in the business of declaring ATGs before they prove themselves to be great.

I just don't understand who Linares has beaten that makes him an all-time great. Both Guerrero and Linares are exceptional young champions, both can box and punch. Guerrero is a southpaw and has gained a lot of confidence since heading over to Denmark and stopping Spend Abazi.

To say that Guerrero is a walk-over for Linares, especially considering Guerrero's much better quality of opposition, is irresponsible.

[oldgringo]

Linares is a very good fighter. Shawn is in the business of declaring ATGs before they prove themselves to be great.

I just don't understand who Linares has beaten that makes him an all-time great. Both Guerrero and Linares are exceptional young champions, both can box and punch. Guerrero is a southpaw and has gained a lot of confidence since heading over to Denmark and stopping Spend Abazi.

To say that Guerrero is a walk-over for Linares, especially considering Guerrero's much better quality of opposition, is irresponsible.

I agree. Guerrero has several impressive wins. His worst enemy, which you mention, was his confidence and concentration. I remember the knock on Guerrero was that he was a bit of a dirty fighter. Not so much because it was intentional or a flaw in character, but because he lost his focus throughout his fights.

Guerrero is a tough, tough fight for anyone. He has had some downright highlight reel moments in his career already against pretty good fighters. The single left hand which destroyed Honorio being my favorite.

[Dorian]

lets wait till he faces someone tough for once

[Mr. Ryan]

I agree. Guerrero has several impressive wins. His worst enemy, which you mention, was his confidence and concentration. I remember the knock on Guerrero was that he was a bit of a dirty fighter. Not so much because it was intentional or a flaw in character, but because he lost his focus throughout his fights.

Guerrero is a tough, tough fight for anyone. He has had some downright highlight reel moments in his career already against pretty good fighters. The single left hand which destroyed Honorio being my favorite.

The first time I saw Guerrero was on FoxSportsNet nearly killing a guy with a rabbit punch. He was saved from a DQ when the ref called it a technical draw.

Guerrero's publicist Mario Serrano once said to me that he saw a complete shift in his confidence level and subsequent performances after traveling to Denmark to KO Abazi in his home country. It seemed that he was getting lost as a champion/contender during '06 but he has found himself as a fighter now.

The Honorio KO was very impressive considering that Honorio was supposed to be a sturdy test for Guerrero. He was dealing with his wife's illness and Honorio had beaten Steve Luevano a few fights back.

Guerrero starched him with one left.

If Guerrero is a walk in the park for Linares, then Linares must be the new Roy Jones.

[AntonTheMeh]

Very early to say this, but this kid has something special that I have not seen in a fighter in a long time. I don't know what it is, but he just seems to have that special something.

Reminds me of a young Roberto Duran. I am calling it right now, Jorge Linares will be talked about as an ATG at the end of his career.

that's what i said yesterday.he's got great potential.

[!! Shawn]

Linares is a very good fighter. Shawn is in the business of declaring ATGs before they prove themselves to be great.

I just don't understand who Linares has beaten that makes him an all-time great. Both Guerrero and Linares are exceptional young champions, both can box and punch. Guerrero is a southpaw and has gained a lot of confidence since heading over to Denmark and stopping Spend Abazi.

To say that Guerrero is a walk-over for Linares, especially considering Guerrero's much better quality of opposition, is irresponsible.

You don't have to beat anyone to be an ATG, you need to be the best. I don't know where you get the idea that I go around proclaiming people everyone to be ATG's

Comparing Guerrero to Linares in terms of skill is absolutely ludicrous. Not even close to being on the same level currently, or as far as future potential as Linares.

[!! Shawn]

[Addison]

Good thing Jorge has incredible Boxing skills.. I've been thinking that his power may not hold as he moves up in weight.

[Mr. Ryan]

You don't have to beat anyone to be an ATG, you need to be the best. I don't know where you get the idea that I go around proclaiming people everyone to be ATG's

Comparing Guerrero to Linares in terms of skill is absolutely ludicrous. Not even close to being on the same level currently, or as far as future potential as Linares.

You don't have to beat anyone to be an ATG?

So what the hell was Roberto Duran doing fighting Ray Leonard and Tommy Hearns when he could have fought Joe Blow and the Nobody Crew and still have been an all-time great? It sounds like such a waste of time fighting the best guys out there, from what you are saying.

Nobody is dis*****g Linares' skills or any perceived advantage he might have over Guerrero in that department. The point is, as was highlighted by your Youtube contribution to this thread, how do you know what a fighter has until he steps up to that next level?

Outside of a shopworn, blownup 122 pounder in Oscar Larios, what other notable fighters has he faced? Note that this is not an indictment against Linares but a marker that shows where Linares is in his development as a fighter.

Guerrero has fought a significantly better level of opposition. Perhaps Linares could beat Guerrero, but Guerrero is at this moment much better equipped through experience on the championship level.

[!! Shawn]