Devin Haney, despite all of his talent and success, still needs a win against a top-notch opponent. Jorge Linares used to be that kind of elite fighter, and maybe he still can be on the right night. That’s what makes Saturday night’s fight interesting: whether Linares still has the skills to push Haney like he’s never been pushed before (and maybe even possibly pull off the upset). Here’s everything you need to know about Devin Haney vs. Jorge Linares, including the odds, their records and a prediction on who will win.

Though one could make the case that Haney is as talented as the other emerging lightweight stars—Teofimo Lopez and Ryan Garcia, for instance—he doesn’t have the special win that those two have. Lopez, after all, beat former No. 1 pound-for-pound star Vasiliy Lomachenko, and Garcia is coming off his impressive knockout of Luke Campbell.

If Haney can stop Linares, a former three-division world titlist, that would enhance his reputation.

“As you know, we’ve always talked about getting Devin in that right fight that will catapult his career. We believe Jorge Linares is that guy,” Haney’s trainer and father, Bill Haney, said. “… These are the kind of fights that bring out the best in a fighter. A young fighter like Devin with so much in his toolbox, arsenal full of different kinds of punches. It’s just a great opportunity. We want Jorge to come at his best and bring out those things so we can showcase to the people what a wonderful talent he is.”

Devin Haney will also defend his 135-pound title, and if he can beat Linares, there’s a chance that he and Lopez, who holds three of the lightweight belts, can face off to determine the undisputed champion of the weight class. But Linares said he won’t just step aside.

“He knows who he is fighting—a four-time world champion,” Linares said. “I have a lot of experience and that’s the most important thing in this fight to win the fight. He doesn’t have that. He has talent, he has youth and hunger, and the belt. A fight with me is a different level. I can show so many styles, I’m naturally fast and strong. I don’t have a lot of KOs, but he knows I can punch. I think he will run all night, but I will be waiting for him, I will follow him. If he wants to fight inside, I am ready for him. He’s going to have big problems on Saturday night. He knows I can do everything, and he knows I have the timing to put him down.”

Here’s more info on the Devin Haney vs. Jorge Linares showdown that U.S. viewers can watch on DAZN beginning at 8 p.m. ET.

Devin Haney vs. Jorge Linares odds

Despite his past credentials, oddsmakers aren’t giving Linares much of a chance to win. At Bet 365, he’s a +700 underdog, meaning you’d win $700 on a $100 bet. Haney, meanwhile, is a -1200 favorite (bet $1,200 to win $100). You’d get slightly more value on Haney at BetOnline.ag which has him at -1000 and Linares at +600.

I would ignore Haney’s money line, but I’m honestly a little flummoxed for how to get better value on him. It’s possible Haney could stop Linares early (a few other lesser boxers have managed that against Linares), but Haney doesn’t always show a killer instinct to finish off his opponent so it could finish as one-sided decision. If I had to make a bet here, I’d probably go with Haney to win by KO/TKO at -163.

I also wouldn’t mind if you put a little money on Linares at +700, because I think that’s a really good value. In an ideal scenario, I’d put Linares at +400. At +700, that could be a great deal.

If you were looking for a fun parlay for this weekend’s action of boxing (and this is only for entertainment purposes), I might take Haney to win by KO/TKO at -163, Nonito Donaire to pull off the upset vs. Nordine Oubaali at +215 and Jason Quigley to beat Shane Mosley Jr. at -185. If you get all of those correct, it would pay off at about 7/1. (And remember, I nailed the hypothetical parlay last week).

Devin Haney vs. Jorge Linares records

He has an impressive record of 25-0 with 15 KOs, but Haney still hasn’t faced a world-class opponent. Linares might be the one to change that, and if Haney can pull off a highlight-reel KO of Linares, it could open up his world.

Linares is a three-division world titlist, but he’s certainly on the backside of his career. And sometimes, he loses to fighters you wouldn’t expect. Pablo Cesar Cano knocked out Linares in the first round in 2019, and seven years earlier, Sergio Thompson smoked him in two rounds. Linares also knocked down Vasiliy Lomachenko before Lomachenko came back to stop him. At 47-5 with 29 KOs, Linares is still dangerous, but he hasn’t had any great wins since beating Anthony Crolla twice and Luke Campbell in 2016-17.

Devin Haney vs. Jorge Linares prediction

I think Haney will win and will probably win by knockout. But with Linares, who knows when his chin will give out? I think he’ll give Haney some decent rounds and maybe win a few rounds early. But Haney is probably going to be gunning for a stoppage, and I think he’ll get it in the seventh round.

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