Venezuelan boxer and former three-division world champion Jorge Linares has announced that he is retiring from the sport after losing a unanimous decision to Jack Catterall this Saturday at the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool, England.
I want to rest a little bit: Jorge Linares
“The Golden Boy”, who was already on a three fight losing skid, went down for a fourth time against Jack Catterall in their 12-round lightweight contest that had gone the distance with impressive showcasing of performance from both pugilists. In the end, it was a unanimous decision victory for Catterall.
Initially, moments after his defeat, while the post fight interview was still taking place in the ring, Jorge Linares said that he would think about the possibility of retiring. However, as the minutes passed and he was in the locker room, the 38-year-old made the decision to call it quits.
“Happy, super happy, I don’t care if I lost,” Linares told Boxing UK. “I’m a three-time world champion. I’m a very blessed guy. So to finish like this is amazing; it’s a big thing for me. I’m super happy to be here and to show myself who I am and how I finish the fight by a decision. It’s important to me.”
Although he is retiring as an active fighter, Linares makes it clear that he wants to remain involved in boxing in some way.
“I came here to enjoy. Yes, I made everyone happy. That’s a good thing. Yes, this is the last fight,” Linares went on, “I love boxing; I love to be in the gym. I can help [trainer] Ismael Salas in the gym. Maybe I can open a gym. I have a lot of opportunities. I can work on TV and do whatever I want.”
“I want to rest a little bit. I made a beautiful story all my life, and that’s why I finish super happy. I don’t need to show anybody who I am. That’s why I train so hard to make a beautiful show. The only thing I want to say is thank you everybody, and congratulations to Jack [Catterall]. The UK is the best,” he added. [H/T Boxing News 24]
