What's the Classic boards thoughts on Jorge Linares now that he's been retired since 2023? Linares has been a fan favorite fighter due to his aesthetically pleasing yet vulnerable style due to his fragility that made for some exciting fights. When he was sharp he really showed some fast hand speed, good power while putting together some amazing combinations. Interesting to note that even the late Emanuel Steward once called Linares the most gifted fighter he's ever saw. A gifted and skilled fighter he was who was cursed with an awful chin. Yet despite his shortcomings he still managed to be a 3 weight world champ. He fought just about anyone and avoided no one. This content is protected
I always liked him, he was dynamite offensively, fairly easy to hit and very vulnerable. Definitely worth checking his fights out, he kinda reminds of a bigger, orthodox Hozumi Hasegawa at times. To this day, he's Loma's best win imo.
The fight with Lomachenko is one of my favourite fights of recent years.. i can watch it over & over.. Linares is one of those fighters whose resume doesn't do him justice .. very gifted fighter athletically, brilliant technique just not the most durable.. his best win is probably Oscar Larios..
A classic 'less than the sum of his parts' fighter. His bout against DeMarco showcases it most blatantly. Absolutely elite in flashes though. Also an absolute badass.
I recall that Jorge Linares was supposed to face Mikey Garcia but Garcia ended up turning that down. It would have been a really good fight to see where Linares had the skills to beat Garcia while Garcia had the power to take him out.
Like an unfinished video game that had huge potential but ends up being a glitch filled inconsistent mess that couldn't make use of its full capabilities a la Cyberpunk 2077.
