INDIO, CALIFORNIA — Jorge Linares rediscovers his victory form with multiple knockdowns and a final stoppage over Abner Cotto in his first bout at 140 pounds from the Fantasy Springs Casino.
Cotto, of Aguas Buenas, Puerto Rico, saw his legs collapse beneath him in the second round after Linares landed the same straight right that dropped Vasyl Lomachenko earlier this year in New York. Linares’ straight right found an opening yet again in the third round and Cotto’s equilibrium was even more disrupted.
Linares, as he’s previously done, set up his straight right hand by using his jab. He connected on 23 of 71 for a 32 percent connect rate and Cotto did not find a chance to rebound from the damage. The fight was stopped at the 1:31 mark of the third round as a stool was brought into the ring for Cotto — who could not stand up straight.
“I knew I could knock him out. That’s why I went out to do that,” Linares stated. “All fighters are dangerous to fight with. Perhaps he (Cotto) wasn’t at the very elite level, but he was dangerous to fight. At this point in my career I can’t be wasting any time, so that’s why I went for the knock out.”
Following the win, Linares stayed his course and called out 135 pound world champion Mikey Garcia. The 30-year-old Garcia voluntarily dropped the world title he captured at 140 and stated his desire earlier this year to remain at the junior lightweight classification.
A bout between Linares and Garcia was discussed for the better part of the last year, but Linares found himself in the ring with Lomachenko (11-1, 9 KOs) instead, and Garcia battled Robert Easter, Jr. in a unification matchup. A 140 pound matchup between Linares and Garcia is more probable, as Garcia, who hails from Moreno Valley, California, has already shown the willingness to fight at junior welterweight.
“They’re a lot of good fighters at 140 pounds. I know them and they know me,” Linares said in press row following his win.
The 33-year-old Linares said that he would only go back down to 135 if a rematch with Lomachenko could be made or a potential matchup with Garcia (39-0, 30 KOs).
“Of course I would drop down to 135 for Mikey. What I showed there tonight is an appetizer. At this point in my career I have the big fights,” Linares added. “I prepare for world title fights. I know what I can do to continue making this big fights.”
Duno gets three knockdowns on way to decision win over Avilez
Romero Duno made his power known in the very first round as he connected with a combination that saw his straight left hand send Mexico’s Ezequiel Avilez to the canvas.
Both fighters kept the fight in the middle of the ring throughout the bout and Duno (18-1, 14 KOs) remained fundamental by utilizing his uppercuts and combinations. Avilez found some success in the middle rounds by landing some overhand right hands, but Duno seemingly always had an answer.
Romero Duno connects with a right cross on his way to three knockdowns and a unanimous decision win on the latest edition of Golden Boy Boxing on Facebook Watch. Photo: Tom Hogan/Hogan Photos-Golden Boy
Avilez (16-3-3, 6 KOs) was warned for some below-the-belt shots in the eight rounds, but none caused any slowness on the part of the 22-year-old Duno. Avilez tasted the ring floor twice more in the sixth round of action from a straight right and a left-hook, respectively.
In the final round of the contest, Avilez brought out whatever he had left in the tank and caused the crowd to chant in support of him. In a last ditch effort before the ending bell, Avilez once again found some success with his sweeping overhand shots, however, Duno stayed compact and almost dropped Avilez in the final second.
Three scores of 80-72 were announced all in favor of Duno.
Undercard results:
- Elnur Abduraimov (1-0, 1 KOs) defeated Aaron Hollis (4-8, 2 KOs) by 1st round TKO
- Oscar Duarte (15-0, 10 KOs) defeated Roger Gutierrez (19-4-1, 16 KOs) by 5th round TKO
- Travell Mazion (14-0, 12 KOs) defeated Alan Zavala (15-3, 13 KOs) by 1st KO
