By Miguel Rivera

Venezuelan Jorge Linares (31-2, 20KOs) says Sergio Thompson (21-2, 19KOs) is part of the plan for his preparation for a July 7th rematch with WBC lightweight champion Antonio DeMarco (27-2-1, 20KOs). Last October Linares was stopped in the eleventh round by DeMarco. Linares takes on Thompson on Saturday night at the Oassis Hotel Complex in Cancun.

Linares will be very focused in the fight and he won't allow Thompson to make him stray away from his strategy.

'The fight against Thompson is only part of the preparation for the rematch against Antonio DeMarco, and this will help me to heat the engines, because I've gone through a few months without a fight after my fight against DeMarco in Los Angeles," said Linares. "[Thompson] is a boxer who has enough desire and he wants to come out in this fight and wants to take me out of my game place, so the idea is to not allow that to happen. I have all the resources to win, to use my boxing, but I'm always taking care of myself in the event of a war."

"I not really focused on the knockout. I'm very determined to secure the victory with my boxing. If Thompson comes looking for the knockout, I am sure that he will [be the one to get knocked out. I am very happy to return to Cancún. I feel like I'm at home. I am very happy and I know the location and in addition the climate benefits us."