November 22, 2024

Jorge Linares ordered to fight Mikey Garcia and Badou Jack must fight Adonis Stevenson

The WBC has laid down the law…

Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images

Mikey Garcia has been ordered to face Jorge Linares by the WBC. 30-year-old Garcia is the reining WBC lightweight champ but hopes to gain the IBF world title at light-welterweight by defeating Sergey Lipinets on February 10th.

WBA lightweight champion Linares is due to fight on January 27th against Mercito Gesta. The WBC’s ruiling means the undefeated Garcia would have to choose whether or not he wants to return to the lightweight division if he overcomes Lipinets for the IBF strap at 140 lbs.

WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman published the council’s decisions on Wednesday following their convention in Baku, Azerbaijan. The Mexican also outlined the mandated title fights for each division

Sulaiman stated:

”Both champions will fight each other immediately after their bouts”

32-year-old Linares overcame Anthony Crolla for a second time in 2017, then progressed to victory over Great Britain’s Luke Campbell later in the year.

40-year-old WBC light-heavyweight champion Adonis Stevenson has been told he must to face Sweden’s Badou Jack.

The Canadian Stevenson won his title in 2013, however, “The Ripper” Jack looks likely be his next challenger.

Jack, 34, beat Wales’ Nathan Cleverly to win the WBA world light heavyweight belt in August, but has since relinquished the belt.

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