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The early life of Linares
- Updated: September 22, 2016
Jorge Linares had to overcome early hardship on his path to world title glory, says the man who nurtured the career of the ‘Golden Boy’.
The Venezuelan three-weight world champion will challenge Anthony Crolla for the WBA title at the Manchester Arena on Saturday night, live on Sky Sports.
But the 31-year-old’s first experiences of the sport started in a small town in his home country, which was better known for its cowboy ‘gaucho’ lifestyle, than successful fighters.
Gilberto Mendoza, the current WBA president, has guided the boxing career of Linares since he was a youngster and reveals how his talent stood out from an early age.
“There was a group of 60 fighters approximately that were good boxers, with high hopes, but he was the most talented of all,” Mendoza told Sky Sports.
“Linares was a little bit hyperactive to be honest, but very smart. He was very respectful, at some points quiet, but he was always very concerned about the welfare of his family. He has never changed that.”
Linares was a natural sportsman who also excelled in distance running and volleyball, but decided to favour boxing on the advice of his father.
A skilled amateur, he soon acquired national titles, and was …
