Linares Retains WBA Crown Against Gesta/Matthysse Ko's Kiram
Jorge Linares retained his World Boxing Association (WBA) Lightweight championship with a broad unanimous decision over Mercito Gesta in Inglewood, California.
The Venezuelan dominated the fight from start to finish and managed to impose himself on the cards by 118-110, 117-111 and 118-110. The champion met a rival who fulfilled what he promised and fought like a good challenger against the champion. However, Linares could solve it from the first rounds and, with a very precise counterattack, left the Filipino without ideas.
The “Golden Boy” used his straight right and the one-two punch to constantly connect a very insistent rival who kept going forward for most of the fight. Linares completed his third defense and looked very good towards bigger challenges in the future.
“I did not feel the Gesta’s punch, at all. In the fourth round, I felt that I hurt my hand, but every time I threw the right, I did it “with love”, the Venezuelan told the media after the fight. “I knew he was not going to get me unless he did it with the hook, and he couldn’t do it in the whole night”, he continued.
Linares left his record at 44 wins, 3 losses and 27 knockouts, while Gesta left his at 31 wins, 2 losses, 2 draws and 17 knockouts.
On the same card Argentine Lucas Matthysse showed that his hands are still very powerful and knocked out Thai Tewa Kiram in eight rounds to win the World Boxing Association (WBA) Welterweight championship, which was vacant.
“La Máquina” was fighting against a young rival, who tried to keep distance from the aggressive South American since the beginning of the fight. The inactivity that Matthysse has had in recent years was noted, but it was also seen that he was ready for the chance to fight for the world title since he went from less to more until he could knock out his opponent.
Matthysse worked patiently and looked for Kiram throughout the fight. The pressure increased as the rounds passed and, finally, he got into the distance he needed to get the best of his opponent.
In the eighth round, the Argentine connected Kiram’s face with a straight right that sent him to the canvas. Although the Asian got up, the strong blow of the new champion had affected him and, after receiving a strong left, he could not recuperate from the second fall.
“He moved well, but I got on top of him until I was able to get in. He’s an uncomfortable opponent, but in the end I was able to get him and win”, Matthysse said after the fight.
The Argentine left his record at 39 victories, 4 defeats and 36 knockouts. Kiram, on the other hand, now has a record of 38 wins, 1 loss and 28 knockouts.
Source World Boxing Association
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