Beauty & beast clash is a thriller

WELL done to the WBC for mandating Mikey Garcia, who hits like a mule, and Jorge Linares – such a beautiful boxer to watch – to fight early this year.

That would be in my list of fantasy fights. If only it were that simple.

Both have other engagements first, Linares (above) defending his WBA lightweight title later this month against Mercito Gesta and WBC champ Garcia moving up to super lightweight to challenge sergey Lipinets for the IBF title.

Garcia (below) seems obsessed with going through divisions.

After winning his first world title at featherweight, victory would make him a four-weight champ.

But as his record shows, Garcia, unbeaten in 37 with 30 Ko’s, doesn’t find anybody a problem.

Timing and accuracy are the best weapons against speed and the attributes you need to beat Linares. And Garcia has both.

They are innate qualities and in my view will prove decisive should Garcia and Linares accept the WBC order.

It will be a compelling duel while it lasts. Linares, who has lost only three times in his long, 46-fight career, is unbeaten since walking into a threshing machine called sergio Thompson in 2012.

Linares was caught with a looping overthe-top right and overwhelmed before going down with a cut left eye in the second round which ended the fight.

I think the outcome would be the same, Garcia eventually getting through to finish it in the middle rounds.

Follow Barry on twitter @clonescyclone