and held nothing back again in a pregame interview.Somebody asked me and I told the truth of what I felt. I still feel the same way, Popovich said. Its still a disorienting situation when you tho

However one rates them, most view Jorge Linares and Anthony Crolla as the two best lightweights in the world, giving their impending showdown even more meaning and prestige.Besides fighting for Crollas world title and Linares symbolic diamond belt, they will also be squaring off to assume the vacant 135-pound lineal world title, with the winner of the bout on Saturday (AWE and Klowdtv.com, 2:30 p.m. ET) at the Manchester Arena in Crollas hometown of Manchester, England, earning the right to be called the divisions true champion.Its a special night. Itll be a war, and thats what were prepared for, Linares said. Its something very special what Crolla and I are doing. Its something we love to do, and were proud representing. Thats whats going to steal the show and give the fans a beautiful fight.The fans are excited for this one. Were both world-class fighters and world champions that are willing to fight each other, as were proving in this one. Theres no need to trash-talk or build the fight up.Linares, 31, of Venezuela, has won world titles in three weight classes -- featherweight, junior lightweight and lightweight -- and comes into the fight as a so-called titleholder in recess, having been stripped of a sanctioning-body belt because of a hand injury.But before he was injured earlier this year, he had defended his title twice, including a victory against longtime contender Kevin Mitchell. It was a dramatic and intense fight in which Linares was knocked down in the fifth round but rallied for a 10th-round knockout victory in one of the best fights of 2015.For that fight, Linares (40-3, 27 KOs) traveled to Mitchells British turf in London, and he is making a return to England to face Crolla (31-4-3, 13 KOs) but is very comfortable doing so thanks to the experience gained against Mitchell.Im excited to be here, Linares said. Believe it or not, I feel like Im at home because the fans received me well. Weve been here before, on a similar stage, when we fought Kevin Mitchell. Manchester is different, but the love and respect Im getting is admirable. Every fight you learn more and gain experience. I feel much better than I did with Mitchell. Ive had a better camp with more sparring, more conditioning.I love fighting in my opponents backyard with all the noise that comes with it from their fans. The supporters cannot get in the ring with their fighter. Its just me and him. When I first started to fight all over the world, it took some time to adjust, but now its easy and I am confident doing it.Crolla, 29, will be making his second title defense and facing a formidable opponent for the fourth fight in a row.In November, Crolla knocked out Darleys Perez in the fifth round with a body shot to win the belt in a rematch of their disputed draw. In Crollas first defense, he faced dangerous mandatory challenger and big puncher Ismael Barroso -- Linares Venezuelan countryman -- in May and knocked him out in the seventh round, also with a body shot.Now Crolla will face the best opponent of his career in what he has called a legacy fight.I rate Linares very highly, Crolla said. Hes technically brilliant. Everyone in the gym loves to watch him fight, and hes the kind of fighter young kids should watch. He likes to fight at his pace, and I cant allow that. I dont want to give too much away, but Ive got to take advantage of some weaknesses that I think Ive seen there. Im confident I can do that. Ive got to be switched on from the opening bell. Hes a very good counterpuncher, so I know I cant be lazy at any stage. But I genuinely believe Ill have an answer for whatever he shows me.Although Crolla gave Linares credit for the fine victory he had against Mitchell, he said Mitchells damaged eye was a big factor.I thought a lot of his win over Kevin was down more to Kevins eye getting so bad, really, Crolla said. Jorge has had better performances than that. He looked good last time out again Ivan Cano [in a fourth-round knockout win last October], but I can take a lot from Kevins fight. Kevin and I are different fighters, but he put on a great performance and was seconds away from winning, really. But Jorge dragged himself off the floor and came from behind to get the stoppage, and thats what true champions do. It was a great fight.Im going to have to exchange with him at times and Im going to have to be cute and make him fall short. Kevin showed that [Linares] has weaknesses, and there will be times that we trade, but Ive been working hard on my boxing ability and my angles because hes too good to walk in straight lines. I have to use my brain in the fight. Ive got to drag every last ounce out of myself to win, and thats exactly what I am going to do.Linares paid close attention to what Crolla did to Barroso and said he wont make the same mistakes. Linares is far more technically gifted than Barroso, the superior puncher.Ismael is a very good fighter, but he made a big mistake in the fight, Linares said. He came out too strong and too fast and too aggressive, trying to KO Anthony, and when you are at this level, you cannot go looking for the KO, because when you do that, you end up receiving the KO, and thats what happened.Anthony worked to fight for 12 rounds but Ismael didnt. He came rushing out, and Anthony absorbed the early attack and imposed himself on Ismael and won the fight in style. The difference is that I prepare to go the distance, and thats what you need to do at this level.However the fight goes down, the fact that the Nos. 1 and 2 fighters in the division are willing to face each other -- and that the business side of things was worked out -- is rare.When [Crolla] beat Ismael Barroso, he said he wanted to fight Jorge Linares because hes the best in the division and wants to test himself, Matchroom Boxings Eddie Hearn, Crollas promoter, said. Its a pleasure to work with Robert Diaz and Golden Boy Promotions. He shares the passion of the best fighting the best. Jorge Linares is a three-weight world champ and the best in the division -- at the moment. Jorge Linares deserves great respect for coming over, and hes already done so against Kevin Mitchell in a wonderful fight this past year.Said Diaz, Golden Boys matchmaker, who is very close to Linares and is with him in England: As Eddie said, this level of fight is not done as often and made as easy as this. We got this done in a couple of days because the two fighters are similar. Anthony Crolla is a tremendous fighter and person, and he improves with every fight. I applaud him for wanting to fight the best.Jorge Linares is similar to Anthony Crolla. He has been to England to fight Kevin Mitchell, and I said to him, You are going to Manchester and the fans are loud, and he said I will wear headphones.For sure, it will be loud and, based on their fighting styles, most expect a tremendous battle, one that (barring a draw) will crown an authentic lightweight world champion.Both men are at the peak of their careers right now, said Joe Gallagher, Crollas highly respected trainer. These are the two best fighters in the division and well find out who the best is. Both men are a credit to the sport. Avonte Maddox Jersey . -- Al Jefferson found a groove just in time for the Charlotte Bobcats. Womens Eagles Jerseys . Wilson hit Schenn from behind during Tuesday nights game in Philadelphia, earning a five-minute major for charging and a game misconduct. He has a phone hearing with the department of player safety, which limits any potential suspension to five or fewer games. http://www.cheapeaglesjerseyschina.com/ . The mixed zone is not a place to make friends. Discount Eagles Jerseys .C. -- Calgarys Kevin Koe did it the hard way again. Josh Sweat Jersey . He was followed closely by David Clarkson, donning red, seconds later. Clarksons actions one night earlier, leaping off the bench in defence of Kessel during a pre-season game against the Buffalo Sabres, will cost him the first 10 games of the regular season. SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- After struggling in the first few weeks of the season to find their patented offensive rhythm, the San Antonio Spurs are once again making it miserable for opposing teams.Pau Gasol had 24 points and nine rebounds to lead a balanced offense for the Spurs in a 110-105 victory over the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday night.LaMarcus Aldridge scored 21 points and Kawhi Leonard added 20 for the Spurs, who won their fourth straight and improved to 6-0 on the road this season. Tony Parker had 14 points and seven rebounds.We didnt have that level of awareness and we werent moving the ball as much as we should have been early in the season, Gasol said. Were at our best when were moving the ball, creating an energy and flow that carries over to the defensive end. Thats been the staple of this team for so long.Sharing the basketball and frequently finding the open man for a good look, the Spurs had a season-high 29 assists and shot 49 percent. San Antonio has recorded 20 or more assists during its winning streak.Perhaps its no coincidence the winning streak has taken place after Parker returned from a sore right knee that caused the veteran point guard to miss three straight games. He was directing the offense against the Kings and frequently finding an open teammate.The key for us is moving the ball and making sure everyone is involved offensively, Parker said. The last four games were really been finding our rhythm. We have a lot of weapons.An offseason free-agent signing, Gasol is definitely one of those options. The crafty veteran center scored nine points in the opening quarter and had 16 by halftime, helping the Spurs take a 57-46 lead at the break.Its not something I try to do, I just take the shots when they come to me, said Gasol, who shot 10 for 17. Teammates found me early tonight and I was able to be effective.DeMarcus Cousins had 26 points, 17 rebounds and six assists for the Kings, who dropped their third straight game. Matt Barnes had 15 points and Ben McLemore, Willie Cauley-Stein and Rudy Gay each added 11.Were making it harrd on ourselves right now, Cousins said.dddddddddddd We gotta come out with better energy and a better effort. Its on us if we want to turn this around. Its nobodys fault but ours.Guarded much of the game by Leonard, Gay shot just 3 for 11 after entering the game averaging 22.3 points.The Spurs took the lead for good in the second quarter and led by as many as 18 points before going to the reserves late in the fourth quarter.The Kings eventually cut the lead to four points on Cousins two free throws with 8.7 seconds remaining. However, Davis Bertans made a free throw and the Kings missed two shots to end the game.TIP INSSpurs: Danny Green was back in the starting lineup despite a groin injury Monday against Miami. He made three 3-pointers and had nine points... Reserve center Dewayne Dedmon sprained his left knee and will also miss Fridays game.Kings: Cousins picked up two fouls in the games first four minutes. ... Lawson came in shooting 4 for 25 the previous five games. He was 1 for 2 for three points against the Spurs. ... The Kings had 17 turnovers that resulted in 16 Spurs points.POPOVICH STILL ANGERED BY ELECTIONSpurs coach Gregg Popovich has been an outspoken critic of President-elect Donald Trump. He has spoken openly about his feelings on the election and held nothing back again in a pregame interview.Somebody asked me and I told the truth of what I felt. I still feel the same way, Popovich said. Its still a disorienting situation when you thought you lived in a certain kind of country with certain values and find out those values arent important to half the country.I thought with all the divisiveness in the election, all the groups that President-elect Trump disparaged the best way to start was not to worry about Obamacare or talk about Wall Street or anything else. But that didnt happen. That was my hope.UP NEXTSpurs: At the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night.Kings: Host the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday night. Cheap Authentic Jerseys Cheap Stitched Jerseys Discount NFL Jerseys Jerseys NFL Cheap Cheap NFL Gear Cheap Nike NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Hoodies ' ' '