Zaur Abdullaev Overwhelms Jorge Linares Late in WBC Title Eliminator
In the lightweight main event at the RCC Boxing Academy, Zaur Abdullaev (15-1, 9 KO’s) stopped three-divisional champion Jorge “El Nino de Oro” Linares (47-7, 29 KO’s), winning the WBC title eliminator and a chance at revenge with WBC champion Devin “The Dream” Haney.
Linares is still considered a top figure in the lightweight division. The Venezuelan is a three-divisional champion, but he is 3-3 in the last six fights. Despite coming off a defeat at the hands of Haney, Linares is ranked #6 by the WBC. Several boxing enthusiasts see this as a career-on-the-line situation for the multi-divisional champion. Moreover, he walked away from a WBA title eliminator wanting to avenge a defeat to Haney also.
Abdullaev suffered the first defeat of his career courtesy of The Dream. Since that lone defeat back in 2019, the Russian has been on a three-fight win streak and is eager to get another shot at the title. Furthermore, he holds the WBC Silver title, along with a #4 WBC and #11 IBF rating. Abdullaev will be extra inspired by having a hometown crowd advantage.
TYPICAL LINARES START
Abdullaev started strong, fighting with a high guard, and landing body shots early as Linares was downloading information before striking with that laser-sharp double left hook to the head and pit of the stomach.
The Russian was not to be discouraged. Abdullaev continued to come forward, landing the jab and a good double overhand right. Linares fought back as if he was enraged. He landed hard uppercuts and kept landing a fast double left hook to the body.
As the fight would continue, Linares was using laser-sharp counterpunches along with more left hooks to the body and overhand rights. Abdullaev was having success from the tight high-guard position, landing the straight punch and a hard body shot that froze the three-divisional champion for a second.
Linares’ pole-like jab became a larger factor in the fight, snapping the head back of the Russian opponent. Abdullaev hit Linares with another hard right-hand that had the three-divisional champion on the back foot.
ABDULLAEV CAME TO FIGHT
It was becoming clear in the later rounds that Linares, despite landing good shots, was beginning to fade and was taking some punishment. Down the stretch, Abdullaev hurt the Linares twice. In round, nine he landed a hard shot to the liver that made the Venezuelan native pause again. In round, ten Linares was on wobbled legs after getting hit by a punishing overhand right.
Linares tried using his footwork to create some distance but was getting out-hustled. For every one shot he landed, the Russian landed three, and they were the more telling punches.
It was only a matter of time , now. As the momentum shifted, Abdullaev turned up the heat in the final round. As the fighters were in the center of the ring, Abdullaev landed two powerful left hooks, dropping Linares twice before pinning him against the ropes. There he unloaded a barrage of punches, prompting the referee to jump in to stop it.
Abdullaev celebrated the spectacular stoppage with the hometown crowd and is now ready to fight for the title. On the other hand, Linares has suffered another defeat. At the age of 36, it may be time to call it a career.
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By: Garrisson Bland
