By Kenneth Friedman: Erickson ‘The Hammer’ Lubin weighed in at 153.75 pounds on Friday at the weigh-i for his 12-round WBC junior middleweight title eliminator bout against Terrell Gausha on SHOWTIME. Gausha (21-1-1, 10 KOs) weighed in at 153lbs and looked in great shape.
(Photo credit: Amanda Westcott/SHOWTIME)
#1 WBC Lubin (22-1, 16 KOs) and Gaushua will be fighting for the vacant WBC silver 154-lb title in addition to the WBC title eliminator on Saturday at the Mohegan Sun Casino, in Uncasville, Connecticut.
The winner of the Lubin vs. Gausha fight will be the mandatory challenger to WBC junior middleweight champion Jermell Charlo. However, there’s a possibility that the Lubin-Gausha winner could wind up facing Jeison Rosario if he defeats Jermell in their unification match this month on September 26th.
Other weights on Saturday’s Lubin vs. Gausha card:
- Tugstsogt Nyambayar – 125 ½ lbs. vs. Cobia Breedy – 125 ½ lbs. Featherweight Bout – 10 Rounds
- Jaron Ennis – 146 lbs. vs. Juan Carlos Abreu – 150 ¼ lbs. Welterweight Bout – 10 Rounds. Abreu came in 3 1/4 pounds over the 147lb weigh-in limit, but the management for the two fighters was able to negotiate an agreement for the weight limit to be increased to 151lbs, so the fight will go ahead for Saturday.
Lubin, 24, has won his last four fights since losing to WBC 154-lb champion Jermell Charlo by a 1st round knockout in October 2017. That was a case of the then 21-year-old Lubin not having enough seasoning to deal with the 27-year-old Charlo, who clocked him with an overhand right to score a quick first-round knockout.
Since that loss, Lubin has beaten the following fighters:
- Silverio Ortiz
- Ishe Smith
- Zakaria Attou
- Nathaniel Gallimore
Lubin would like nothing more than to get a chance to avenge his loss to Charlo, but that’s not his overall goal. He wants to capture the WBC title, as well as the IBF and WBA belt. If Lubin beats Gausha on Saturday, he’ll be fighting for three belts against the Charlo-Rosario winner.
“I want to go out there and get the stoppage. That’s what every fighter wants,” said Lubin. “If that doesn’t come, I’m ready to fight for 12. I’m ready to fight for 15 rounds. That’s the type of shape I’m in. Fighting for a world title at just 22-years-old, it brought a lot to my game.
Erickson NOT chasing Charlo
“It brought me to another level. Getting those fights under my belt against Ishe Smith and Nathaniel Gallimore, and now Terrell Gausha. The next go around for the title will definitely be different. I’m more seasoned, more experienced, and I feel like I’m at my best right now.
“And I’m fighting for that mandatory spot, and I’m looking forward to getting in the ring with one of those guys to fight for not just one of the straps but all of them. I’m not chasing [Jermell] Charlo. And I’m chasing those titles. If he wins, so be it. I’m definitely looking forward to a rematch with Charlo.
“As I said, I’m looking forward to those titles. That’s what I’m chasing,” Lubin continued. “For sure, that’s how I train. I train to go in there and make a statement, and on Saturday night, that’s what I plan on doing.
“I feel like I got to be steps ahead of him, and I feel like my boxing skills are the best in the division,” said ‘The Hammer’ Lubin. Whatever he wants to do, I can do it better than him. If he wants box, I can box better than him. If he wants to bang, I can bang better than him. I’ll show it on Saturday night.
“Revenge is bittersweet, and the best revenge is success,” said Lubin. “If I get in the ring with Charlo again, I’m going to show him that I’m a totally different fighter, and I’m looking forward to that.”
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