Both undefeated champion Devin Haney of the United States and challenger Jorge Linares of Venezuela who has been fighting out of Tokyo’s Teiken Boxing Gym cleared official weigh-ins on May 28 (May 29 Japan time), setting the stages for their World Boxing Council lightweight title match on the following day in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The 22-year-old Haney, who has 25 straight wins, including 15 knockouts, tipped the scales at the class limit of 135 pounds (61.23 kgs), while the third-ranked Linares, a former triple world champion with a 47-5 win-loss tally with 29 KOs, weighed in at 124 lbs (60.78 kgs).

According to the prefight prediction, Haney has some 7-1 lead because of Linares’ age (35 years old) in addition to the fact his five losses all came by KO.

But, among the fighters the American has fought so far, there is no doubt that Linares is the boxer who has the most practical accomplishment, boxing source said.

Also, if his past performance is any indication, Linares who has trained hard and long in Japan (like this time) has shown a tendency of good performance. Linares entered the U.S. only late last week, according to the sources.

The scheduled 12-rounder will be held at Michelob Ultra Arena, formerly known as Mandalay Bay Events Center.

Linares, who made his professional debut in Japan in 2002, has so far won the titles of WBC featherweight, World Boxing Association super featherweight, WBC lightweight and WBA lightweight.　 Photo by Ed Mulholland / Matchroom