While my recent post had something to do with the decision, the preferred reasons are that the other fights aren't quite interesting enough for the challenge, and with June's calendar looking like it will have many fights to select from, I decided to keep it small.
In Las Vegas, Devin Haney defends his WBC lightweight title against veteran Jorge Linares.
Haney is the questioned WBC champion, which the organization brought on itself with its ridiculous "franchise" champion designation, which it said couldn't be lost even if the champion lost and when Teofimo Lopez upset Vasyl Lomachenko the title indeed was transferred, is the WBC champion in my eyes although Lopez should be.
That's a mouthful for me to type, but it's indicative of the mess that sanctioning bodies make of things by simply not leaving well enough alone.
Haney dominated a well past his prime Yuriorkis Gamboa in his last fight in winning every round, but he didn't seem interested in trying to stop Gamboa or looking sensational in the attempt.
Haney looked like a good puncher in his rise up the rankings but hasn't scored a knockdown in either of his last two fights against Gamboa and Alberto Santiago and has much to prove against Linares.
Linares has held titles at 126, 130, and 135 and is known for his smooth offensive style that leaves many slackjawed as they watch the combinations flow from the native of Venezuela.
The issue with Linares has always been his ability to absorb punches as he has been stopped in all five of his losses, so Haney may have an opponent that has the ability to win rounds and maybe even the fight if his chin holds up, but that same chin could be the factor that allows Haney notch the spectacular victory against a name opponent that he has been looking for.
While Haney-Linares is intriguing on several levels, the Showtime main event is equally interested as France's Nordine Oubaali defends his WBC bantamweight title against Nonito Donaire, a champion in four different divisions.
Donaire hasn't fought since his fight of the year caliber effort against WBA and IBF champion Naoya Inoue in November 2019 in the finals of the WBSS tournament, but neither has Oubaali, who decisioned Inoue's brother, Tayuma in the co-feature on the same card as Inoue-Donaire.
This is a rescheduled fight that has been canceled twice for each man dealing with Covid-19, so that factor may be a wash.
Donaire has stated an Inoue rematch in a unification match is his goal should he win, while Oubaali may decide to make a different unification match on Showtime against the winner of a summer bout between WBO champion John Riel Casimero and Guillermo Rigondeaux with a victory.
Donaire's effort against Inoue at almost 37 (he's 38 now) ranks as one of the most courageous in recent years as he pushed Inoue as no other opponent has been able to do so, but it's fair to question how much that tremendous fight has taken out of Donaire.
Oubaali is undefeated but other than his win over former champion Rau'shee Warren, Oubaali is taking a step in competition.
This is a very close fight to call and it could come down to how much did Donaire lose after the Inoue battle?
If Donaire is similar to the warrior that gave Inoue all he wanted, he has enough to get by Oubaali and get his rematch with Inoue, but if it was a great champion's final stand and he's on the edge of a fight that shows the wear and tear of a long career- Oubaali is good enough to take advantage and grab the win.
In the boxing challenge, I lead Ramon Malpica 70-66.
Devin Haney vs Jorge Linares
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