Jorge Linares focused on getting back the gold
During a media work out last week, former featherweight and super featherweight world champion Jorge Linares seemed pretty care-free at first. The Venezuelan fighter joked about cutting weight in the Nevada desert and seemed undaunted by his opponent, Ira Terry.
“Whoever can’t make weight with the extreme heat here in Las Vegas, has a serious issue [laughs]. Thankfully, I feel very good," he said.
Linares would seem to have relatively good reason for his cheer and confidence. After all, his opponent Terry hasn't won a fight since 2012, and just a little bit before that, he had lost eight straight.
Linares is supposed to win on Saturday against Terry on the undercard of the Shawn Porter vs. Kell Brook welterweight title Showtime event in Carson, California. If Linares has good reason to look past his opponent this week, he certainly seemed focused on and serious about a larger goal.
“It’s obligatory," he said.
"I have to win next week, without a doubt. There’s no thinking about losing,"
The 28 year-old desparately wants to become a world champion again. To do so, he'll not only have to win the big ones, down the road, he'll also have to win big against the likes of Ira Terry in fights he's supposed to win.
That title goal is what Linares is really fighting for and against. He's won his last five fights and if he keeps on winning, Linares will eventually get another crack at gold.
“Winning that world title is the only thing present on my mind," he concluded.
"I have to get a good win next week and then look for that world title."
Jorge Linares getting work in at last week's media workout:
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