Marco Antonio Rubio confident of defeating Gennady Golovkin

Mexicoโ€™s Marco Antonio Rubio is convinced he will defeat middleweight puncher Gennady Golovkin when the two meet in Carson, California on October 18th. And the experienced 34-year-old is sure he hits harder than anyone the unbeaten โ€œGGGโ€ has faced and that he will get the KO win and put himself up there with the fighting greats Mexico has produced over the years.

Saying he feels โ€œbetter than everโ€ and ready for a war, the 59-6-1 (51) operator feels his blend of experience and power will see him to a sensational victory.

Q: First of all, do you agree with those people who say Golovkin is the best middleweight in the world right now?

Marco Antonio Rubio (as translated by Julio Gudino): โ€œWell, right now, basing things on his record; yes he is the best. But come October 18th, my goal will be to take over the position and prove Iโ€™m the best.โ€

You are a big puncher, with 51 KOs. Do you think you will hit Golovkin harder than heโ€™s ever been hit before?

โ€œI think Golovkin will be stepping into the ring for the hardest fight of his career when he fights me; and I think I will be doing the same. I do not think he has ever fought anyone that hits as hard as me, no. He will be hit harder than he has ever been hit before.โ€

You have said this will be a โ€œMexican-style fight, in the Mexican tradition.โ€ You expect a slugfest, where you will go straight at Golovkin?

All I know is, I come to fight! Robert [Garcia] and I will be talking what our game-plan will be during training camp. Whatever comes of that, you can rest assured I will be coming to knock Golovkin out. Will it be a slugfest? With two power punchers, I donโ€™t see it being any other way. Iโ€™m looking to knock him out. I think that is the way all boxers want to win and thatโ€™s my goal. But if it does go the distance I will win that way.โ€

You have over twice as many pro fights as Golovkin, do you think your great experience will also be a factor?

โ€œI do think my experience will be a great asset. Golovkin is good, but he hasnโ€™t been in the ring with anyone that has the blend of power and experience I have. I feel my win over David Lemieux (TKO7 2011) was one of my best ever performances, and that fight was the first time I truly allowed my experience to reign in the ring. There is a lot more to boxing than just throwing punches and I learnt a lot in that fight. Iโ€™m excited, I feel Iโ€™m now in the best time of my career. Iโ€™m at a great age both mentally and physically and I feel my added experience has shown in my last few fights. Iโ€™m a totally different fighter to when I fought Kelly Pavlik. That was five years ago.โ€

Who was the harder puncher, Pavlik or Lemieux?

โ€œLemieux is a hard puncher, but a different type of hard puncher. I have to say Pavlik is the hardest puncher Iโ€™ve ever fought.โ€

You have won six in a row since the decision loss to Julio Cesar Chavez Junior. Do you think that decision against you was a fair one?

โ€œYeah, Chavez beat me that night. But there were other factors that we had to deal with in that fight, such as his size and his weight. But Iโ€™m past that [loss],ย  he beat me in the ring.ย  But it was a close fight and he never hurt me.โ€

A win over Golovkin would be huge for you. Do you think it would put you in the pound-for-pound ratings and up there with the Mexican greats?

โ€œWell,ย  if they are saying Golovkin is the best and I beat himโ€ฆโ€ฆโ€ฆ. Yeah, I would imagine so. You have to beat the best to be the best. Thatโ€™s why I took this fight.ย  [Miguel] Cotto didnโ€™t want to fight me when I was the mandatory challenger, so we asked for a fight with Golovkin and he accepted. This will definitely be a great fight; one to watch!โ€

Photo by Chris Farina

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