Photos: Devin Haney Overcomes Scare, Decisions Jorge Linares

Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas – For the WBC lightweight championship, Devin Haney (26-0, 15 KOs) won a twelve round unanimous decision over three division beltholder Jorge Linares (47-6, 29 KOs). (photos by Ed Mulholland)

The scores were 116-112, 116-112 and 115-113.

Haney began by boxing and using his speed to have an advantage. He was jabbing to the head and body as Linares was trying to get inside. Haney’s jab was doing most of the damage in the second, as Linares was unable to land.

Haney was landing pot shots in the third and jabbing away to the head and body. The fourth round was close. Linares finally began to land a few punches, but Haney was still in full control. Haney stayed in the pocket during the fifth, landing accurate punches on Linares and was gaining confidence to exchange. 

In the sixth, Haney was mixing up his punches and looking to land heavier blows. He was tagging Linares and walking him back. During the seventh, Haney was outlanding Linares during the action.

During the eight, Haney landed a big left that Linares took well. Haney was dominating the action and landing most of the big shots. Linares started throwing a lot at the start of the ninth, with Haney coming right back with more damaging punches. They exchanged punches in the closing moments.

Haney was controlling most of the action in the tenth, connecting with the more accurate shots and using his defense to avoid damage. But at the end of the tenth, Linares seemed to rock Haney with a big hook.

Haney was doing a lot of holding in the eleventh, potentially still hurt from the end of the tenth. Haney eventually regrouped and began to punch back as Linares was applying a lot of pressure and doing more work. 

In the twelfth, Haney was still doing a lot of holding as Linares was trying to do damage, but unable to land the right punches before the final bell.