(Photo Credit: Fantasy Springs Resort Casino)

Major Update On Golden Boy And DAZN’s August 28 Fight Card

By Fight Sports Aug 20, 2020

Due to unfortunate circumstances surrounding its main event, DAZN has nixed its entire fight card on August 28. ESPN was the first to report the news.

It was reportedly DAZN’s decision to pull the plug after a new, suitable opponent could not be found for Javier Fortuna. His original opponent, Jorge Linares, had to back out of the Golden Boy-produced bout after testing positive for COVID-19. The hope is that the fight between Linares and Fortuna, as well as the card, will be rebooked for September.

Fortuna (35-2-1) was supposed to face off against Luke Campbell before COVID-19 nixed those plans. Originally set to compete for the WBC Lightweight Title against Campbell, Devin Haney was then reinstated as champion following surgery. Looking to become the true contender, Fortuna chose to fight Linares. Campbell will face Ryan Garcia for the interim title, with the winner to face Haney.

A former WBA Super-Featherweight Champion, Fortuna is 2-1 in his last four fights with one no-contest. His last fight was a TKO win against Jesus Cuellar in November. The 31-year-old has 24 wins via some form of knockout.

Linares (47-5) last fought in February, knocking out Carlos Morales for his 29th win via some form of knockout. “The Golden Boy” won the WBC Featherweight Title from Oscar Larios in 2007 and the WBC Lightweight Title in 2014 against Javier Prieto. During that time he became WBA and The Ring Lightweight Champion, defending those belts three times before losing it to Vasiliy Lomachenko in 2018.

As far as a replacement opponent, Hector Tanajara Jr.’s name was out there. Tanajara (19-0) won two fights in 2019 after fighting five times in 2018. The 23-year-old’s last bout was a unanimous decision win over Juan Carlos Burgos in January. He was supposed to face off against Mercito Gesta on July 24 on the Vergil Ortiz Jr. v. Samuel Vargas undercard. Gesta, however, ended up getting sick (non-COVID-19 related), forcing the bout to be scrapped.

The fight card, if in September, will take place inside the Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, California.