By Elisinio Castillo

In 2017, WBA lightweight champion Jorge Linares (41-3, 27KOs) is expecting to continue building his legacy by facing the best fighters in the division.

Last month, Linares came to enemy territory in Manchester and outboxed hometown hero Anthony Crolla to capture the WBA world title.

There is a rematch clause and the two of them will face each other for a second time early next year.

The win over Crolla wasn't easy and he expects another tough fight in the rematch. When they met the first time around, Linares was focused on coming out fast in order to pile up the points from the very start.

"I knew this fight would not end by knockout, so I had to set the conditions from the beginning since fighting as the visitor is difficult when it comes to the judges giving a favorable decision," Linares said.

Linares, 30-years-old, would like to get former two-division champion Mikey Garcia in the ring next year.

The Venezuelan star may get his wish - whether he wants to go in that direction or not.

Garcia (35-0, 29KOs) is scheduled to challenge WBC lightweight champion Dejan Zlaticanin on January 28th in Las Vegas.

The World Boxing Council has ordered a mandatory fight between the winner of that contest and Linares - who is currently the WBC's "champion in recess." Zlaticanin captured the vacant WBC title after Linares was unable to make a mandatory defense due to injury. Provided Garcia and Linares win their upcoming fights, they will be ordered to face each other.

"There are still many things on the table, but I think right now we're negotiating a rematch against Crolla and it's going to be just as good as our first fight was. I would not be against the idea of going back to Manchester to face him again," said Linares.

"As a boxer I want to leave a legacy and for that I need to face the best fighters in my era - so I would also like fight Mikey Garcia, but first I will defend my belt [against Crolla]."