Photos - Ed Mulholland/Matchroom
Undefeated WBC lightweight champion Devin Haney (26-0, 15 KOs) won a twelve round unanimous decision over former three-division ruler Jorge Linares (47-6, 29 KOs) of Venezuela Saturday night at the Michelob Ultra Arena at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. It was a good fight as Haney boxed and used his speed against the former world champion. Linares took Haney to deep waters in the champion rounds staggering him as the champ held on it was a thriller to the end as the judges scored the fight 116-112, 116-112, 115-113.
“The fans want to see that,” said Haney. “They want to see if I can go in there and walk my opponent down. Hit him with big shots. I showed I can do it all, I can box, I can bang, I can take a shot and face adversity and get the job done.
“It was a good shot, but I wasn’t hurt, sometimes when you get hit by a good shot, you have to be smart, continue the game plan, and I did that and got the win.
“I knew he was going to come here and give it everything, it was a huge opportunity for him, he would be willing to get knocked out to go for the win, take my biggest shots to get this title.
“I just kept smart, used the jabs, feinted and landed shots in the 12th round. You are going to get hit with big shots in boxing. I didn’t get dropped; I didn’t get hurt. You see fighters get dropped and get up from big shots and people praise them, I didn’t get dropped, I stayed on my feet, kept throwing shots and closed it out.
“I want to fight the best, I stayed focused on Jorge this week, I knew he was a tough competitor, and I got the job done with the game plan. If Teofimo Lopez wants to do it next, let’s do it for all the belts, the real undisputed.”