GENNADY GOLOVKIN again illustrated his cavernous potential when he pummelled Marco Antonio Rubio into submission inside two rounds at the Carson Stub Hub Center in California. The Kazak destroyer, 32, could be the best fighter in boxing today but until he gets the chance against one of the sport’s elite, we won’t know for sure.
Perennial contender Rubio exhibited extreme unprofessionalism in the build-up as he failed to make the 160lb limit, weighing 1.8lbs over, and decided against using a two-hour period after the weigh-in to slim down. It meant if he notched the upset, he would not have won Golovkin’s WBA title.
Weighing over 180lbs come fight time, Rubio swallowed several power shots in the opening round, and his head crunched backwards as the session came to a close. It looked like just a matter of time before Golovkin’s power was definitive.
A series of blasts landed in the second round and Rubio could not withstand them. He rocked beneath their power, took a booming uppercut, a savage left, and hit the deck before the referee waved the fight off and rescued the Mexican from further pain.
“The uppercut , he was very badly hurt, and I knew I had him,” said Golovkin. “I was happy he came forward. He fought Mexican style and he tried to hurt me, but my power was too much for him tonight.”
Golovkin also picked up the Interim WBC belt in victory to set up a shot at leader Miguel Cotto.
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