Devin Haney vs. Jorge Linares

Devin Haney vs. Jorge Linares was a professional boxing match contested between WBC lightweight champion Devin Haney, and former three-division world champion Jorge Linares. The bout took place at the Michelob Ultra Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, on May 29, 2021, with Haney's WBC title on the line.[1][2] Haney won by unanimous decision with the judges scoring the bout 116-112, 116-112, 115-113 in his favor.[3]

Devin Haney vs. Jorge Linares
DateMay 29, 2021
VenueMichelob Ultra Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
Title(s) on the lineWBC lightweight title
Tale of the tape
Boxer Devin Haney Jorge Linares
Nickname The Dream El Nino
Hometown San Francisco, California, U.S. Barinas, Venezuela
Pre-fight record 25–0 (15 KOs) 47–5 (29 KOs)
Height 5 ft 8 in (173 cm) 5 ft 8 in (173 cm)
Weight 135 lb (61 kg) 134 lb (61 kg)
Style Orthodox Orthodox
Recognition WBC lightweight champion 3-division world champion
Result
Haney wins via unanimous decision (116-112, 116-112, 115-113)

Background

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After Haney's unanimous decision win over Cuban veteran Yuriorkis Gamboa,[4] Haney called out fellow American lightweight and newly crowned unified lightweight world champion, Teófimo López, who had recently defeated pound-for-pound star Vasiliy Lomachenko[5] three weeks prior, saying it was 'the main fight' he wanted to make happen.[6] However, the IBF mandated López to fight Australian George Kambosos Jr,[7] with López deciding to go in that direction to minimize the risk of being stripped of his title.

In January 2021, after Ryan Garcia captured the WBC interim lightweight title after his seventh-round stoppage over Luke Campbell,[8] the WBC were set to order Haney to defend his title against García.[9] However, García seemed to show little interest in a potential fight with Haney, and voiced his desire to face Gervonta Davis or Manny Pacquiao instead,[10] ultimately fighting neither in the end.

After weeks of negotiations, it was announced that Haney was set to defend his WBC title against former three-division world champion Jorge Linares on May 29, 2021 in Las Vegas.[11]

Fight card

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Weight Class vs. Method Round Time Notes
Lightweight   Devin Haney (c) def.   Jorge Linares UD 12/12 Note 1
Super lightweight   Chantelle Cameron (c) def.   Melissa Hernandez TKO 5/10 1:25 Note 2
Super featherweight   Azinga Fuzile def.   Martin Joseph Ward TKO 7/12 2:45
Middleweight   Jason Quigley def.   Shane Mosley Jr. MD 10/10
Welterweight   Reshat Mati def.   Ryan Pino UD 6/6
Featherweight   Ramla Ali def.   Mikayla Nepel UD 6/6
Light heavyweight   Khalil Coe def.   Nathaniel Tadd TKO 2/4 1:10
Super welterweight   Amari Jones def.   Jonathan Ryan Burrs KO 1/4 2:56

^Note 1 For WBC lightweight title
^Note 2 For WBC female super lightweight title

References

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  1. ^ "Devin Haney set to fight Jorge Linares in May | DAZN News UK". DAZN. Retrieved April 2, 2021.
  2. ^ "Devin Haney to defend WBC lightweight championship against Jorge Linares on May 29 in Las Vegas". Sky Sports. Retrieved April 2, 2021.
  3. ^ Idec, Keith. "Devin Haney Boxes Past Jorge Linares For Unanimous Decision". BoxingScene.com. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
  4. ^ "Haney beats Gamboa to defend WBC title". BBC Sport. Retrieved April 2, 2021.
  5. ^ Teofimo Lopez Upsets Vasiliy Lomachenko to become Undisputed Lightweight Champion | FIGHT HIGHLIGHTS, retrieved April 2, 2021
  6. ^ Devin Haney Calls Out Teofimo Lopez For A Unification Fight, retrieved April 2, 2021
  7. ^ Rives, T. J. (January 9, 2021). "IBF Orders Teofimo Lopez To Fight Kambosos". Big Fight Weekend. Retrieved April 2, 2021.
  8. ^ "Garcia drops Campbell in seventh round to win lightweight title fight". Sportsnet. Associated Press. January 2, 2021. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
  9. ^ "Devin Haney vs Ryan Garcia set to be ordered by WBC, but Garcia eyes Gervonta Davis". talkSPORT. January 5, 2021. Retrieved April 2, 2021.
  10. ^ Ryan Garcia UNCUT On Devin Haney, Says What Has To Happen Before They Fight, retrieved April 2, 2021
  11. ^ Idec, Keith. "Hearn: Linares Is Breakout Fight That'll Show Devin Haney Is Best Lightweight On Planet". BoxingScene.com. Retrieved April 2, 2021.