Jorge Linares retained his World Boxing Association (WBA) Lightweight championship with a broad unanimous decision over Mercito Gesta in Inglewood, California.

The Venezuelan dominated the fight from start to finish and managed to impose himself on the cards by 118-110, 117-111 and 118-110. The champion met a rival who fulfilled what he promised and fought like a good challenger against the champion. However, Linares could solve it from the first rounds and, with a very precise counterattack, left the Filipino without ideas.

The “Golden Boy” used his straight right and the one-two punch to constantly connect a very insistent rival who kept going forward for most of the fight. Linares completed his third defense and looked very good towards bigger challenges in the future.

“I did not feel the Gesta’s punch, at all. In the fourth round, I felt that I hurt my hand, but every time I threw the right, I did it “with love”, the Venezuelan told the media after the fight. “I knew he was not going to get me unless he did it with the hook, and he couldn’t do it in the whole night”, he continued.

Linares left his record at 44 wins, 3 losses and 27 knockouts, while Gesta left his at 31 wins, 2 losses, 2 draws and 17 knockouts.