On Wednesday, Roberto Diaz, assitant matchmaker for Golden Boy Promotions, landed in TOkyo to visit the newest acquisition of his employer.
“Jorge Linares is a great project that we have been working on,” Diaz shared. “The objective is Linares to also help us establish a good working relationship with Teiken Boxing of Japan.
Diaz stated that Golden Boy Promotions has followed the career of Linares for the last five years.
“We first saw him here, in the Teiken Boxing Gym in Tokyo, we have watched him grow and develop into an athlete,” Diaz recalled. “Since 2007 when he defeated Oscar Larios, we have wanted for him to be part of Golden Boy but until now we were able to work out the deal. Linares not only shines inside the ring, but also outside of it. He is a great example for up and coming fighters.”
Among the opponents that Linares could be facing as part of Golden Boy Promotions are Rocky Juarez, Robert “Ghost” Guerrero and Chris John.
“Linares is at the level of any of those fighters but right now, we have to think about Salgado who is a tough and complicated oppoenent,” Diaz said. “The plan is for Linares to fight twice in the U.S. and then to go after the bigger names.”
Diaz also commented on the offer by Edwin Valero for Jorge “La Hiena” Barrios for a bout in Caracas for the WBC lightweight title.
“The offer was made but Barrios already has a fight scheduled. Nonetheless, Golden Boy has an opponent for Valero in Joel Casamayor who could face Valero in December with out a problem,” Diaz revealed. “Casamayor has no problem flying to Caracas in December for the bout, all Valero’s people have to do is to make a reasonable offer.”