Gennady Golovkin vs. Marco Antonio Rubio
Photo by Tom Hogan/K2 Promotions
Lou Catalano, Staff Writer
Marco Antonio Rubio has been on a nice little run since losing a unanimous decision to Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. in 2012.
Gennady Golovkin has butchered everyone in his path since 2008. Rubio is a game fighter with a hard punch, but when he’s stepped up to the big leagues, he’s faltered. Kelly Pavlik whipped him, as did Chavez Jr.
Golovkin will do the same. Rubio just doesn’t have the tools to hang with this monster, but he has proven to be durable, aside from the time Kofi Jantuah played Ring The Bell with his dome several years ago.
I think Rubio will land a shot or two and give Golovkin some work before being stopped in the mid-to-late rounds.
Prediction: Golovkin
Brandon Glass, Contributing Writer
For this fight–it’s Gennady Golovkin. Both guys have power, but the only thing that’s better than power is having speed added to the mix. Golovkin has this mixture and it will prove him to be the better man.
Marco Antonio Rubio is not chopped liver, though. Rubio is a very good boxer with considerable experience, despite his lack of speed, he is for the most part a successful pugilist and has put the asses of solid competition on the mat.
However, every big money fight he’s been in has resulted in a loss. I wouldn’t bet on him to end that streak here.
Prediction: Golovkin
Rob Anthony, Contributing Writer
Gennady Golovkin is the top dog at 160. He is building a nice international fan base but is missing an interesting foe that will raise his profile. Marco Antonio Rubio isn’t that foe.
Rubio is just another decent middleweight that will put up just enough opposition to make things interesting for a few rounds. I’m predicting another destruction within eight rounds.
What this fight will do is help build a bigger fan base for GGG as this is his debut on the west coast. KO for GGG in eight or less.
Prediction: Golovkin
Tony Calcara, Staff Writer
I like Gennady Golovkin. He’s just too strong and I don’t believe Marco Antonio Rubio has enough to hold him off.
Prediction: Golovkin
Vincent Nolasco, Contributing Writer
The best Middleweight slugger, Gennady Golovkin will face a rugged fighter, Marco Antonio Rubio this Saturday, October 18 at the StubHub Center in Carson, California.
This is going to be an all-out fireworks bout. Both of them like to bang and showcase their punching power. This bout will end in a knockout in the middle rounds. In the early rounds, Rubio will need to take control of the bout by using his jab, moving around the ring and moving from Golovkin’s punches.
Golovkin will need to cut off the ring like he usually does to set himself up to connect with high percentage punches to the body. This is where Golovkin is most effective when he cuts his opponents off. Shifting into the middle rounds, Golovkin will be controlling the bout with heavy multiple bombs towards Rubio’s body.
Rubio will showcase that he is willing to trade power shots in the pocket. By doing so, Rubio’s body will start to fade away and it will slow him down. The bout will end in a sixth-round knockout for Golovkin.
Prediction: Golovkin
Alex Burgos, Editor-in-Chief
Gennady Golovkin is the truth. Those who are sold on him will have another reason to get excited after Saturday night because he will dispense of another legitimate top 10 Middleweight contender.
The detractors will say, “Rubio who?” But Golovkin can’t do much about the fact that hardly any fighter wants to get in the ring with him. If GGG beats Rubio, it’ll make four victories over top 10 contenders in the last five fights (Curtis Stevens was a top 10 guy when fought Golovkin). That’s impressive.
Hopefully, Rubio can put up a little bit of resistance before he bites the dust. But, I won’t be surprised if he doesn’t.
Prediction: Golovkin
