Meet Jorge Linares. He lost it all in the ring.

**atomicpoet** · Posted On: 4/03/2012 3:44am

Jorge Linares seemed to have everything. He had a great promotional deal, a great trainer, and natural skills.

Then, last October, he lost his title shot to Antonio DeMarco in what should have been a gimme. The fight, while good, was a stoppage on cuts.

While Linares did lose, he was winning on points until the stoppage. The loss was understandable. Cuts could happen to anyone -- right?

Well, this weekend, he was stopped again on cuts. This one was in the second round. It happened against a journeyman in what was supposed to be a stay busy fight before the rematch with DeMarco.

The fight itself -- all two rounds of it -- is good stuff. But it's also a reminder that all it takes is one fight to lose everywhere.

***Tranquil Suit*** · Posted On: 4/03/2012 12:42pm

He lost it all in the ring.

A bit melodramatic, no? He certainly hasn't lost it all. That is what I would say of Gerard McClellan and the likes.

As for the fight, congrats to the journeyman. That was a legitimate knockdown, regardless of cuts. I had him winning so far.

**atomicpoet** · Posted On: 4/03/2012 9:54pm

Originally Posted by Tranquil Suit

A bit melodramatic, no? He certainly hasn't lost it all. That is what I would say of Gerard McClellan and the likes.

As for the fight, congrats to the journeyman. That was a legitimate knockdown, regardless of cuts. I had him winning so far.

Gerald McLellan's a different story. He lost his health — which I agree is much more serious.

As far as Linares is concerned, though, his "everything" has more to do with potential. Golden Boy was grooming him to be the next Oscar de la Hoya. Believe me, they put a whole lot of money behind him — and this weekend, it all went away in a puff of smoke.

Think about this more as watching a Fortune 500 company go bust.

**Rivington** · Posted On: 4/04/2012 1:05am

Originally Posted by atomicpoet

Jorge Linares seemed to have everything. He had a great promotional deal, a great trainer, and natural skills.

And too-early title fights (filling vacant titles no less), an inflated fight record thanks to fighting mostly underweight ham and eggers who just got paid to stand there and get punched, and no ability to adapt to his opponents when they actually decide to show up for a boxing match. **** that kid.

**atomicpoet** · Posted On: 4/04/2012 1:37am

Originally Posted by Rivington

And too-early title fights (filling vacant titles no less), an inflated fight record thanks to fighting mostly underweight ham and eggers who just got paid to stand there and get punched, and no ability to adapt to his opponents when they actually decide to show up for a boxing match. **** that kid.

In fairness, Linares has been a professional for 10 years. If he's not going to step up now, when would he ever step up?

Other than that, I agree with you. **** him.

***JohnnyCache*** · Posted On: 4/04/2012 8:55am

Originally Posted by atomicpoet

Gerald McLellan's a different story. He lost his health — which I agree is much more serious.

As far as Linares is concerned, though, his "everything" has more to do with potential. Golden Boy was grooming him to be the next Oscar de la Hoya. Believe me, they put a whole lot of money behind him — and this weekend, it all went away in a puff of smoke.

Think about this more as watching a Fortune 500 company go bust.

Boxing's system has crossed the line into over-grooming if you ask me. We're now seeing guys bog down when thwy have to really take a win. It's also criminal that a loss is so damning ... even dana white knows **** happens

**Soldiermedic** · Posted On: 4/04/2012 10:13am

Jimmy Garcia lost it all in the ring(and by extension, so did Gabriel Ruelas). This guy? Not so much

**Einstein McFly** · Posted On: 4/09/2012 5:12pm

Couple things. First off, if you've seen Linares fight you know he's got great skills/movement/coordination/timing etc. Second, he got stopped on cuts but considering how he was getting battered it's unfair that his opponent doesn't get his chance at a legit KO. Third, he did beat some good fighters (Larios, Chavez, Juarez) so all of this "**** 'em" stuff seems like BS fighter bashing. It seems to apply to someone like Zab Judah but not Jorge Linares.