Jorge Linares to face Jesus Chavez on Oct. 24

Jorge Linares is going back to Japan for his next fight on October 24, when he'll face veteran Jesus Chavez. Hilmar Rojas reported the fight tonight at BoxingScene.com.

For those of you who groaned, you're not alone.

Linares (29-1, 18 KO) returned to American TV on July 31, beating Rocky Juarez by 10-round rout in the televised opener of the Marquez-Diaz II pay-per-view. The former stud prospect has come back from his stunning TKO-1 loss to Juan Carlos Salgado to win two fights this year over veteran competition, and he'll look to add another faded scalp to his resume with Chavez.

Those who have seen Chavez fight in recent years know that it's not the Jesus Chavez who once was a top fighter. Chavez (44-7, 30 KO) has lost three straight fights to David Diaz, Michael Katsidis and Humberto Soto. He is serving, at 37 and with a bad knee, as a name stepping stone and nothing more these days. Chavez has never been the same since the tragic fight against Leavander Johnson in 2005.

As much respect as I do have for Jesus Chavez, he's shot, and Linares is just picking the bones of a once-good fighter. The 24-year-old Venezuelan is still rehabbing his career a little bit from the Salgado loss, and Golden Boy and Teiken (his co-promoters) may understandably be a bit cautious about sticking him in with a real contender just yet. With his youth, he's got plenty of time to capitalize on his early career hype.

In the main event of the 10/24 card at Kokugikan, Toshiaki Nishioka will defend his 122-pound title against Rendall Munroe.