Gennady “God of War” Golovkin returns to the ring on Saturday, October 18th, at the StubHub Center in Carson, California to defend his WBA (Super) and IBO middleweight titles against Marco Antonio Rubio. Furthermore, the interim WBC middleweight title will also be on the line for Rubio.
The last fighter to go the distance with Golovkin (30-0, 27 KO) was Amar Amari (14-12, 8 KO), in 2008. However, that was an eight-round bout.
Since Golovkin’s third round KO victory over Nilson Julio Tapia for the WBA (Regular) Middleweight title in 2008, Golovkin’s opponents have lasted an average of 4.81 rounds. Golovkin has knocked out or stopped his past 17 opponents. Will Marco Antonio Rubio become the 18th?
Rubio (59-6-1, 51 KO) has never won a major boxing title. For those that are unaware, there are four major boxing organizations (WBO, IBF, WBA, and WBC).
Rubio has only fought in a major title fight once, in 2012, for the WBC middleweight title, where he was beaten by Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. in a close fight. I scored the bout 115-113 for Chavez.
Rubio is only 34 years of age, but he is an old 34. Saturday evening will be his 67th professional bout. I am afraid Rubio’s body is not going to hold up. Likewise, Golovkin punches like a mule.
With that being said, let’s get it on.
Round 1: Golovkin and Rubio touch gloves and we are ready for some boxing, or some brawling. Rubio tries to cut off the ring to start the fight, but Golovkin lands a nasty hook that rocks Rubio. Rubio is going to have to hold on here early. A crisp uppercut and a cross lands for Rubio to end the round. Golovkin landed the more paralyzing shots.
Round 1 Winner: Golovkin 10-9
Round 2: A right-left combination to the head lands for Rubio, a good way to start off the second. Golovkin hurts Rubio with a solid hook and Rubio holds on until the referee separates the two. A couple of body shots land for Rubio which stops Golovkin’s onslaught momentarily. A cross to the chin lands for Rubio. Golovkin responds by slipping through Rubio’s defense with a solid uppercut. Rubio is still trying to cut off the ring, but he takes a hard hook to the jaw from Golovkin and stumbles back. A tremendous right to the body lands crunchingly for Golovkin. Rubio’s punches are getting nothing but air. Golovkin ends the second round with a powerful combination. How much longer can Rubio take the punishment?
Round 2 Winner: Golovkin 20-18
Round 3: Golovkin starts off the third round with a hard combination. Rubio is stunned and is in serious trouble. An uppercut from Golovkin hurts Rubio again. Rubio is fighting off instinct, throwing anything he can think of to stay off the canvas. His strategy is not working. Rubio takes two colossal crosses from Golovkin, and he crashes to the canvas in the third. Rubio is up at nine. The referee signals the fight to continue and Rubio is still clearly shaken. Golovkin smashes Rubio with two crisp crosses and he is stunned again and on the verge of going down. Boom! A huge hook from Golovkin and Rubio goes down for the second time in the round. It is over. Rubio gets iced by Golovkin here in the third, which should spell the end of his career. Will this mean Cotto-Golovkin in 2015?
Winner: Gennady Golovkin KO 3
