By Ryan Burton
BoxingScene.com was on hand for WBA lightweight champion Jorge Linares evening training session yesterday in Las Vegas.
Renown Cuban trainer Ismael Salas has been in Linares' corner for many years but will not be in his corner on May 12th when he faces Vasyl Lomachenko in the biggest fight of the Venezuelan's career. Prior to the fight being made, Salas agreed to train David Haye for his rematch against Tony Bellew on May 5th in the UK.
Salas offered to train Linares in the United Kingdom but Linares declined the offer, opting to train in Las Vegas where he recently bought a house.
"It is important to me to be comfortable. In England I don't even have a house or good sparring. I have my house and family here and the sparring is great. It is important to be able to focus on just training and winning the biggest fight of my career. Besides I have almost 50 fights. I am not just starting out," said Linares.
As for who will train Linares - it will be a group effort.
World class trainer Rudy Hernandez, who is best known for his work with his late brother and former champion Genaro "Chicanito" Hernandez, has been brought in and Linares' brother Carlos, who trains fighters in Japan, will also be part of the coaching team. Rounding out the team is Jorge Capetillo who has been his strength and conditioning coach for several fights while he was training with Salas.
"When I was in Japan I met with Mr. Honda (of Teiken Promotions who promotes Linares with Golden Boy) and we decided this was the best route to take. Jorge (Capetillo) works with me early in the morning and works with me till sometimes two or three in the morning and is also my nutritionist. My brother Carlos has been training for a year in Japan and is already the second best trainer in the country and very soon will be one of the best in the world," Linares told BoxingScene.com.
Linares-Lomachenko takes place on May 12th at Madison Square Garden in New York and will be broadcast live on ESPN.
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