WBA, WBC Diamond lightweight beltholder Jorge Linares from Venezuela has been in Japan since November 7th, training at Tokyo's Teiken Boxing Gym for his next fight, which could be in February or March next year.

On September 23rd  in Inglewood, California, Linares scored a twelve round decision win over England's former Olympic champion of London 2012, Luke Campbell.

At the World Boxing Council Annual Convention in Baku, Azerbaijan, it called for a mandatory fight between Linares and WBC full champion Mikey Garcia, to establish a single WBC beltholder at 135-pounds.

Linares says he wants the fight with Garcia and this is his first option. But Garcia has already agreed to take another fight in January, which may open the door for a rematch between Linares and Campbell.

Linares has not trained  at the Teiken Tokyo Boxing Gym since August, as meticulous preparations for the fight against Luke Campbell took place in England and Las Vegas. So he's delighted to be back in Tokyo, where he began his professional career at only age seventeen, having left his homeland of Venezuela with the hope, intention, ambition and sheer determination of reaching the zenith of world boxing.

In his most recent fight with Campbell, Linares suffered a fractured rib in the fourth round, but he knew how to overcome that problem thanks to his great shape. Linares says he is already fully recovered and is fighting fit. 

IN OTHER NEWS: Osvaldo "Gallito" Novoa has announced his retirement from boxing.

 "Today I make a tough decision, I say goodbye to boxing. I had a short boxing career but I achieved the goal of being a world champion. Thanks to everyone for wonderful support," he commented on social networks.

Novoa was crowned WBC minimum world champion in February 2014, by knocking out China's Xiong Zhao Zhong.  Novoa put on a great fight that night, showing his great heart and aggressiveness, by knocking out his opponent in the fifth round.

The World Boxing Council wished Osvaldo great success in his future plans.