Jorge Linares has tested positive for COVID-19 and is out as Javier Fortuna’s opponent on Aug. 28 in Indio, Calif.
Linares, the former three-division titleholder, had been training at the Teiken Gym near his home in Tokyo. Teiken Promotions, his promoter, announced the news. The gym reportedly has been closed temporarily.
“He’s feeling OK,” Linares’ manager, De La Cruz, told ESPN. “He’s got symptoms, he’s at the hospital, he can’t leave for 10 days. It’s a nightmare for everyone.”
The Teiken statement read: “We found out [the results] after a pre-fight test was conducted, while [Linares] continued to make good progress [in the gym].”
ESPN reported that Golden Boy, which is promoting the card, is planning to go through with the show and is looking for an opponent for Fortuna in the main event.
Linares (47-5, 29 KOs) has won two consecutive fights since he was stopped by Pablo Cesar Cano in January of last year. He is ranked No. 4 at lightweight by the WBC.
No. 1-ranked Fortuna (35-2-1, 24 KOs) is 2-0 (with one no-contest) since he lost a split decision to Robert Easter in 2018.