Mikey Garcia vs. Jorge Linares.

[Kirkland Laing]

The Flanagan Linares fight isn't happening. Flanagan is moving up to 140 and will undoubtedly fight some WBO top ten bod for Crawford's vacant title in a Copperbox Arena spectacular.

[Alpha]

Yea heard this from the WBO. Did Flanagan drop his nuts and run towards an easy vacant title? He said the Linares fight was all but done.

[Ron Swanson]

So Flanagan told Garcia no because he was going to fight Linares, but told Linares no too?

[Alpha]

Apparently so. He now #1 at 140 to Crawford's soon to be vacated title. The rest of the WBO's top 5 should include Hooker, Orozco, Catterall and Zepeda.

Hopefully Zepeda can get a rematch with Flanagan sometime now at 140.

[Alpha]

Oh yea and funnily enough he waited until Crawford was moving up.

[powerpuncher]

I can’t stand these fighters who just duck every good fighter around them. I mean seriously, going after the vacant title at 140? Ridiculous.

Not that it will happen since Garcia already turned down the offer to sign the 4 fight deal with GBP, but this would be a great time for Garcia to jump in and fight Linares.

[Alpha]

At least Beltran should get a shot at the vacant strap. Will the WBC still mandate the Garcia/ Linares fight? Hoping Easter steps up to the plate and unifies with Garcia. Mikey looking to return in January at this stage.

[Spicoli]

Trying to scramble into Crawfords now vacant apartment . Orozco gives every intention he also intends to move to 147 as he blew the weight and forced hbo to cancel it's co main. If Hooker gets shot I like Flanagan to beat the breaks off of him.

But again how absurd to be ranked #1 in a division never ventured. Why even have rankings at all.

[Alpha]

Trying to scramble into Crawfords now vacant apartment . Orozco gives every intention he also intends to move to 147 as he blew the weight and forced hbo to cancel it's co main. If Hooker gets shot I like Flanagan to beat the breaks off of him.

But again how absurd to be ranked #1 in a division never ventured. Why even have rankings at all.

The WBO seems to always do this if a champion moves up. I'd rather see 2 eliminators between the top 4 rated guys with the winners fighting for the vacant title. That would be too sensible tho.

[Fenster]

Looking at the rankings i'd bet my bollocks Jack Catterall (another Frank Warren fighter) will be Flanagan's opponent for the vacant title.

Flanagan is the least known British "world" champ in history. I guarantee 75% of the Brits on here wouldn't have a clue what he looks like.

[Alpha]

Looking at the rankings i'd bet my bollocks Jack Catterall (another Frank Warren fighter) will be Flanagan's opponent for the vacant title.

Flanagan is the least known British "world" champ in history. I guarantee 75% of the Brits on here wouldn't have a clue what he looks like.

Hooker's probably the easier fight.

[Spicoli]

Trying to scramble into Crawfords now vacant apartment . Orozco gives every intention he also intends to move to 147 as he blew the weight and forced hbo to cancel it's co main. If Hooker gets shot I like Flanagan to beat the breaks off of him.

But again how absurd to be ranked #1 in a division never ventured. Why even have rankings at all.

The WBO seems to always do this if a champion moves up. I'd rather see 2 eliminators between the top 4 rated guys with the winners fighting for the vacant title. That would be too sensible tho.

Agree that, just a basic adherence to bodies own "voting" system. Of course they are the clown car of sanctioning bodies so may be names alone for them just to stay up. Devils advocate and speaking the alphabet boyz money language..can't they just slap a 'interim champion' etc on eliminators and let the ranks settle it, they'll still collect those fees they love. Networks- promoter have much to do with it and premier dates are rare. Imagine a major name title fight off air? Wilder v Stiverne is coming pretty close. Maybe Michael Moorer summed the WBO best when he relinquished the hvy trinket.."It's retarding my career" .

[Ron Swanson]

I don’t think WBO should be considered a major belt. Watching a guy get stripped every month only for a TR fighter to get it in a vacancy fight for decades,,,,it’s not a world title, it’s a Top Rank title.

[Master]

I don’t think WBO should be considered a major belt. Watching a guy get stripped every month only for a TR fighter to get it in a vacancy fight for decades,,,,it’s not a world title, it’s a Top Rank title.

Frank Warren had them in his pocket and remember Emanuel Steward at the kronk gym own the belt too with his fighters for a time.

[Ron Swanson]

I don’t think WBO should be considered a major belt. Watching a guy get stripped every month only for a TR fighter to get it in a vacancy fight for decades,,,,it’s not a world title, it’s a Top Rank title.

Frank Warren had them in his pocket and remember Emanuel Steward at the kronk gym own the belt too with his fighters for a time.

Yup, it's one thing to have some politics. But the WBO is all politics. You can look around at who promotes whom and know what will happen. That's not legitimate