Lightweight world champion Jorge Linares may have a big title defense coming up, but he's also got his sights set on other world champion in and out of his division.
In a Q&A session this week, Linares said he was happy to be main eventing an HBO boxing card, but wants to keep having big fights and name dropped WBC lightweight champion Mikey Garcia and WBO super featherweight champion Vasyl Lomachenko.
"I'm in the prime of my career. I think Luke Campbell is the best opponent for me, besides Mikey Garcia... I love the idea of once again returning to the American boxing market. I want the big fights. I want to fight with the best. I am past the fight with Anthony Crolla, and now I want the best. Mikey Garcia. [Vasyl] Lomachenko. I am ready for everybody," Linares said.
Garcia and Lomachenko have been busy dealing with their own superfights. Garcia recently fought former four-division world champion Adrien Broner in July while Lomachenko is fighting Guillermo Rigondeaux on December 9 in the first ever matchup between two two-time Olympic gold medalists. Linares is coming off a two-fight series against Anthony Crolla, where Linares won the WBA title in their first encounter last year and Linares retained his title in a rematch earlier this year.
Linares is defending his WBA and The Ring magazine lightweight titles against Luke Campbell on September 23 on an HBO Championship Boxing card. The co-main event of the September 23 card at the Forum in Inglewood, California is Antonio Orozco vs. Roberto Ortiz in a fight for the NABC and WBC United States (USNBC) Light Welterweight titles.
