Boxing: Jorge Linares to Defend WBC Title Against Kevin Mitchell on May 30

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A few years ago, Jorge Linares was largely considered an afterthought in the boxing world. The talented Venezuelan burst onto the scene in 2007 with a sensational 10th-round stoppage of Oscar Larios to capture the WBC featherweight title, and he seemed destined for all-time greatness, especially after he captured the vacant WBA super featherweight title two fights later.

Then he was knocked out in the first round against Juan Carlos Salgado in 2009, and eventually lost back-to-back bouts to Antonio DeMarco and Sergio Thompson, both via stoppage.

Linares had to essentially start over and re-climb the ladder, and the majority of the fickle fight crowd considered him damaged goods, a man who would never live up to the lofty expectations placed upon him.

Since his last loss, Linares (38-3, 25 KOs) has won seven straight, five via knockout. Last December in Tokyo, he stopped Javier Prieto in the fourth round to capture the vacant WBC lightweight belt, a title he doesn’t plan on losing anytime soon.

Linares has been on a hot streak lately and he appears to have rejuvenated his career. “El Nino de Oro” is slated to defend his belt in London on May 30 against local fighter Kevin Mitchell. The bout will be held inside the O2 Arena and will be telecast live on Sky Sports in the U.K. It’s a critical fight for Linares, who knows he can’t afford to lose after returning to the pinnacle of his weight class.

“I am excited and honored to be defending my third world championship title in London,” Linares said in a statement. “This third title is something I have worked very hard for. I have had a great training camp focusing on the skills that I need to defeat an opponent like Kevin Mitchell. I know he is a strong and aggressive fighter and I feel his style of fighting will suit me. This will not be an easy fight.”

For Mitchell (39-2, 29 KOs), he also can ill-afford to come up short for another chance at capturing a world title. Though his record is superb, he’s come up empty before. He was stopped in the fourth at the hands of Ricky Burns for the WBO lightweight title back in 2012.

“This is the making of my career,” Mitchell stated. “I will win this fight and create a legacy as an unbeaten world champion. I know Jorge Linares is a three-weight world champion and a classy fighter -- if you allow him to do what he wants to do, but I believe I will shut him down. I’ve matured, I feel secure with the team around me and I have left that party boy behind, I am enjoying it again. I know I am going to win this fight.”