June 3, 2006
TOKYO, JAPAN
Unbeaten Japan-based Venezuelan, WBA#3/WBC#4 feather Jorge Linares (21-0, 12 KOs), 128, pounded out a unanimous decision (99-92, 98-94 and 97-94) over Mexican Pedro Navarrete (17-3-3, 8 KOs), 127.75, over ten fast rounds on Saturday in Tokyo, Japan. The vastly talented Linares displayed his remarkable reflexes to avert almost all punches of the game Mexican who kept coming forward all night. Linares managed to outwork and outspeed Navarrete with fast jabs and quick combinations, but failed to score an expected KO win due to Navarretefs durability and determination. The 20-year-old Venezuelan, whose amateur mark was as remarkable as 144-6 and who turned professional here in Japan, often caught the Mexican with solid body shots, but Navarrete withstood his strong punches and attempted to retaliate with busy but less accurate attacks. Linares is gunning for a crack at the WBA 126-pound throne against Chris John of Indonesia, but it will depend on his manager/promoter Akihiko Hondafs ultimate decision when the Venezuelan will face the unbeaten Indonesian who defeated Juan Manuel Marquez.
Promoter: Teiken Promotions.
(6-3-06)