Saturday night proved to be another feather in the cap for the always impressive Jorge Linares who recorded a solid win at the Forum in California.

A unanimous points verdict saw Linares retain his WBA lightweight title after twelve rounds of action.

He proved to be just too much in every area for Mercito Gesta on the night, despite him getting off to a decent start against Linares, he was not able to keep it up.

Gesta had some success with the right hand early on but it didn’t take long for Linares to begin timing it and shutting it down with his own work.

Ultimately it was Linares’ more explosive and quick action that proved to be the difference. A man who after a shaky start, never looked in trouble in the bout in truth.

Controlling the action largely.

After the fight his promoter Oscar De La Hoya called for a showdown with Vasy Lomacehnko. What a fight it would be.

Lomachenko has not been tested in some time and a motivated, on form Linares could certainly ask him plenty of questions at lightweight one suspects.

The win last night improved Linares’ record to 44-3-27KO. A big fight later in the year against Lomachenko could make a lot of sense all round.