IF you think it’s been a long time since we saw Erickson Lubin in a ring, that’s because it is. On September 30, 2023, Lubin last engaged in competitive action, winning a 12-round unanimous decision over Jesus Ramos.
Many felt Ramos had done enough to get the victory. Since then, Ramos has fought three times, winning all three by knockout. During this rebuild, Lubin, 26-2 (18 KOs), has not been sighted at all. For so long a rising prospect within the PBC ecosystem, Lubin now returns to the screens for a fresh start, boxing Ardreal Holmes on Pro Box TV this Saturday evening (May 10).
Hailing from Kissimmee, Florida, the fight takes place on Lubin’s home soil in the city’s Silver Spurs Arena. Pro Box is clearly backing their man in this IBF title eliminator. The winner will be in pole position to take on champion Bakhram Murtazaliev, who was last seen bludgeoning Tim Tszyu, also in Florida (Orlando). The 154-pound division is pretty tasty right now.
At 29, Lubin still has a bit of mileage left. Following a stellar amateur career, he turned pro young, delivering strong knockout performances, earning the ‘Hammer’ nickname for his finishes. That was until he ran into 29-0 Jermell Charlo in 2017. Iced in round one, it was a heavy wake-up call for Lubin, once he woke up from the sweet Charlo uppercut.
Winning six on the bounce, including a stoppage over Jeison Rosario, a shot at gangly WBC Interim king Sebastian Fundora beckoned for Lubin. They produced a 2022 classic, exchanging knockdowns before Lubin was stopped in round nine, sporting a rearranged face. Two losses, both by knockout, emphasised a durability issue when stepping up to the higher level for Erickson.
While Ardreal Holmes isn’t at that higher level, the Michigan ‘Bossman’ is 17-0 and will view this as his big chance to leapfrog a faded former prospect-come-contender and snare that shot at Murtazaliev. Holmes is tall and awkward to fight. A bit like Fundora, without the freakshow factor that works so well for the ‘Towering Inferno’.
Holmes, 17-0 (6 KOs), has good wins over regional contenders like Vernon Brown, Ismael Villarreal, Wendy Toussaint and local Detroit rival Marlon Harrington. That got him to this stage, but will it be enough to take him beyond? In his last outing, Holmes struggled with the pressure of Edwine Humaine Jr in a hometown headliner.
Holmes will be very much the away man and underdog heading to Florida. Perhaps his levels will rise as he fights better opponents. In that case, Lubin will need to be on his game against a tricky operator who can be difficult to pin down and hit cleanly. The early rounds will be key to seeing who can find their groove first.
Erickson Lubin vs. Ardreal Holmes Fight Prediction
As mentioned, Holmes is tall and slippery. His six KOs are a concern, as he’ll need something to keep Lubin thinking. Holmes’ style and movement mean he doesn’t really sit down on his shots, so he may have a bit of pop in the gloves when required.
He’ll need it. Lubin is the tried and tested fighter here and clearly the bigger puncher. Boxing on home turf, now training in his home state, these are the kind of tests he has proven capable of overcoming. It’s the next level where he falters. Size dimensions show that Holmes is a similar unit to rangy Murtazaliev.
While this is a bit of a dress rehearsal for his third crack at a top title, Lubin can’t and won’t overlook Holmes. BN Online tips him to win by stoppage in the final third of a contest that might start tough, but he’ll figure it out along the way.
