Jorge Linares vs Pablo Cesar Cano
This match-up was a WBC Super lightweight title eliminator: former world champion Jorge Linares against hard-punching Pablo Cesar Cano.
Linares was looking for victory tonight with hopes to make a run for a title since losing to Vasiliy Lomachenko last year. Cano is no stranger to big fights. He has shared the ring with Shane Mosley and Paul Malignaggi; evidence of his big-fight experience. This would prove to serve him well.
From the opening bell, he came out and imposed his size as the bigger man. He threw an overhand right that sent Linares to the canvas early in the round. However, he stayed calm and focused on keeping the pressure up. He landed two more right-hand counters, sending Linares to the canvas two more times, before stopping him before the end of the first round.
This is, no doubt, the biggest win of a career that’s been full of ups and downs. In the middle of the ring, an overjoyed Cano was asked of a possible fight with WBO champion Maurice Hooker. Hooker was in attendance, saying he would, of course, take the fight.
Linares has had a long career. When asked what happened, he admitted that the weight was just to much for him.
In boxing, the most commonly used phrase is “anything can happen,” and tonight was proof of that.
Cano is now in a great position – riding a wave of momentum in a fight where he was the underdog. To the champions in the division beware; there is a new threat in the division.
By: Garrisson Bland
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