HANEY DEFENDS WBC TITLE AGAINST LINARES
Devin ‘The Dream’ Haney* will defend his WBC World Lightweight title
against *Jorge Linares* at the *Michelob ULTRA Arena at Mandalay Bay Resort
and Casino* in Las Vegas *Saturday, May 29*. The event will air live
worldwide on DAZN in association with Devin Haney Promotions and Golden Boy
Promotions.
*Information on tickets will be released soon.*
The spotlight will be on Haney (25-0, 18 KOs) over Memorial Day Weekend as
he puts his belt on the line for the third time, this time taking on
Linares who will provide the sternest test of the champion’s rich talents.
The 22-year-old star will box in his Las Vegas backyard for just the third
time in his career and first time since his sixth pro outing in May 2016.
‘The Dream’ was elevated to World champion after a destructive KO win over
Zaur Abdullaev in New York in September 2019. He went on to defend his belt
twice with comfortable distance wins over Alfredo Santiago in November 2019
and Yuriorkis Gamboa the following November.
“I’m very excited to be making my third World title defense against a great
fighter like Jorge Linares, who will be the best fighter I will have ever
faced in my career,” said *Haney*. “He’s a three-division World champion
who has fought at the championship level for the past thirteen years.
“I grew up watching Linares and the fact that this fight is happening in
Las Vegas is incredible. Boxing fans around the world are eager to see me
step up in competition which is great, and I know Linares is coming to
fight. I’m ready to give the fans a spectacular performance. The better the
competition brings the best out of me. Against Linares, I’m going to show
the world why I’m the king of the Lightweight division.”
Linares (47-5, 29 KOs) is looking to become a two-time holder of the WBC
strap that he won in December 2014 against Francisco Javier Prieto, the
catalyst to a run that saw the Venezuelan ace beat Kevin Mitchell, Ivan
Cano, Anthony Crolla twice, Luke Campbell and Mercito Gesta over a
four-year run as Lightweight king before his to-and-fro clash with Vasiliy
Lomachenko in New York in May 2018.
The 35-year-old takes on Haney in his 15th World title battle and in his
53rd contest in over 18 years as a pro, and Linares believes that there are
plenty more chapters to be written in his storied career.
“This is my moment to show the world that I still have a lot more to give
at 135 pounds,” said * Linares*. “Devin Haney is a talented and
quick-handed young man, but when I was his age, I had already become a
world champion by snatching the title away from a real World champion like
Oscar Larios. And now you can imagine how much more experience I have now
at an age where I feel stronger and better than ever.”
“Without a doubt it will be a tremendous fight, but I will demonstrate that
Haney made a big mistake by accepting a challenge that he is still not
ready to overcome.”
“This is the breakout fight that shows the world that Devin Haney is the
best lightweight on the planet,” said promoter *Eddie Hearn*. “Jorge
Linares is a tremendous fighter, a three-weight king that has speed, power
and plenty of experience.
“I’ve represented four fighters who have attempted to beat Jorge and
failed, but this time I believe we have the future king of the division in
Devin, and this is his moment. May 29, the bright lights of Mandalay Bay in
Las Vegas, this is the moment.”
“We have worked with Jorge Linares for a long time and anytime the
so-called experts count him out, he comes back with a vengeance,” said
*Oscar De
La Hoya*, Chairman and CEO of Golden Boy. “Haney has never confronted
anyone even close to Jorge’s skill level, and at 135lbs he is still a force
to be reckoned with for anyone in the division.”
*George Kliavkoff*, President of Entertainment & Sports for MGM Resorts
International, said, “Mandalay Bay has been synonymous with boxing for more
than two decades and we look forward to continuing the tradition with our
partners at Matchroom. The opportunity to host a fight of this caliber,
and doing so safely, is another step in the return of championship events
to the Sports Capital of the World.”
Information ticket on-sale dates and prices and the undercard will be
released soon.
MGM Resorts will implement its comprehensive Seven Point Safety Plan and
its Entertainment & Sports “Convene with Confidence” program, which outline
the company’s approach to protecting the health and safety of guests and
employees. The multi-layered plans include everything from sanitation
stations, masking and physical distancing to digital solutions that
minimize touch points as well as enhanced cleaning protocol. Details can be
found at MGM Resorts Entertainment Convene with Confidence
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