“The thing that happened in that fight is because I made the decision to be in Japan and training in Japan full-time because of the corona [virus]. I didn’t have any similar fighter like him. The first round to the fifth round I didn’t do anything because the jab was a little annoying. But when I touched him, I was very close to finishing the fight by KO. He was more smart than me. He listened to the corner. He started running. That’s why he win the fight,” said Linares to YSM Sports Media about his fight with Haney.
Bill Haney quickly answered on X.
“Jorge, pull your skirt down and live with that ass whooping.
“Have some respect for yourself. We gave you an opportunity, you blew it, and we capitalized.
“How much longer are you going to hate? 😅”
Linares also said he asked for a rematch after losing the decision but claimed it never materialized. Looking back, he maintains he understands the mistakes he made and still feels better preparation would have produced a different outcome.
Haney defended his WBC lightweight title against Linares on May 29, 2021, at Michelob Ultra Arena in Las Vegas. Linares staggered Haney with a right hand in the 10th round, pressing the action after the punch landed. Haney responded by clinching repeatedly through the closing rounds while protecting the lead he had built on the scorecards.
The judges awarded Haney a unanimous decision by scores of 116-112, 116-112, and 115-113. Five years later, Linares still feels the contest slipped away because of preparation rather than ability. Bill Haney sees it much differently, viewing the latest comments as another attempt to explain away a defeat that has long been settled.
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