WBA Orders Michel Rivera-Jorge Linares Title Eliminator, Must Reach Agreement By December 17

WBA has ordered the former three-division titlist, Jorge Linares (47-6, 29KOs), to hold talks with Dominican Republic’s Michel Rivera (22-0, 14KOs) for a lightweight title elimination bout.

The sanctioning has body given both parties a deadline to reach an agreement for the showdown. If no agreement is reached by December 17, the proceedings will move to a purse bid where the winning bid will be split 50/50 between both boxers.

Linares, 36, is ranked No. 3 at lightweight with the WBA and WBC, whereas Rivera is ranked number two by the WBA.
This will be Linares’s first bout since losing to WBC lightweight champion Devin Haney (26-0, 15KOs) in May at Michelob ULTRA Arena, Las Vegas.

At the twilight of his career, he is on the search for the most lucrative options.

In Rivera’s last fight, the 23-year-old racked up a decision win in a ten-rounder against Jose Matias Romero. The October 30 fight was held at Michelob ULTRA Arena.

This win earned him an off-the-canvas showdown where he knocked out Spain’s Jon Fernandez in the eighth round. The fight went down on July 3 at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California.

In a separate development, the WBA is mulling on reducing its number of recognized titlists. It is expected from the sanctioning body to order the winners of Lopez-Kambosos and Davis-Cruz to meet in a title consolidation clash.