By Jim Dower: Kelly Pavlik (35-1, 31 KOs) rebounded well from his defeat in his last fight, taking out challenger Marco Antonio Rubio (43-5-1, 37 KOs) in the 9th round on Saturday night. The fight, which was fought in Pavlik’s hometown of Youngstown, Ohio, was never competitive in the least, as Pavlik methodically dismantled a badly overmatched Rubio round by round until finally Rubio quit after the 9th round while on his stool. Rubio looked poor, not throwing punches and doing little to try and fight back. All I can say is the WBC middleweight division must be the worst in all boxing because Rubio didn’t look like he belonged in the ring with Pavlik, nor any other champion.
Marco Antonio Rubio
Pavlik Dominates Rubio
By Dave Lahr: Making his first appearance since being defeated by Bernard Hopkins in October, WBC/WBO middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik (35-5-1, 31 KOs) stopped Mexican challenger Marco Antonio Rubio (43-5-1, 37 KOs) in the 9th round on Saturday night at the Chevrolet Centre, in Youngstown, Ohio. Rubio, 28, quit between rounds after the 9th, saying that he didn’t want anymore.
Pavlik Stops Rubio In Nine!
Photo credit: Sumio Yamada – By Sam Gregory: In the first round Pavlik lands a couple significant blows that get Rubio’s attention. Pavlik throws a flurry of punches as he backs Rubio into the ropes. Two big right hands stun Rubio as the round ends, clearly a big round for Pavlik.
In round two Pavlik backs Rubio into the ropes with a strong flurry of punches. Several hard rights land for Pavlik; Rubio throws a combination that glances off Pavlik. Another strong round for the champ from Youngstown.
Rubio-Pavlik: Will He Be The Kelly Of Old?
By Dave Lahr: Just how does a fighter react after getting the living day lights beaten out of them? It’s always a mystery and different with every fighter. Middleweight Kelly Pavlik will be under a microscope tomorrow night in his WBC/WBO middleweight title match against Marco Antonio Rubio. Pavlik was beaten badly by Bernard Hopkins in October 2008, the kind of beating that often turns a fighter into jelly afterwards, shaping their career for the negative.
Kelly Pavlik vs. Marco Antonio Rubio and Kendall Holt vs. Timothy Bradley Quotes
YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO (February 19, 2009) – Wall-to-wall media at the Chevrolet Centre in Youngstown, including two network affiliate television crews broadcasting live, attended today’s final news conference hosted by World Middleweight Champion KELLY “The Ghost” PAVLIK of Youngstown, his opponent, No. 1 contender and mandatory challenger MARCO ANTONIO RUBIO of Mexico, and Hall of Fame promoter BOB ARUM, chairman of Top Rank.
Loew: “Once We [Pavlik] Get Past Rubio We’ll Probably Go For Duddy
By Eric Thomas: WBC/WBO middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik’s trainer Jack Loew told Steve Bunce’s Boxing Hour that Pavlik is looking at probably facing undefeated light middleweight contender John Duddy, but only if Pavlik can get by his WBC mandatory Marco Antonio Rubio this Saturday night at the Chevrolet Centre, in Youngstown, Ohio.
News – Povetkin vs. Estrada, Pavlik vs. Rubio, Cruz Defeats Thomas
Kelly Pavlik’s trainer Jack Loew believes the middleweight champion must defeat Marco Antonio Rubio this weekend to get his career back on track. Pavlik fights for the first time since he lost to Bernard Hopkins in October last year. Loew told the Steve Bunce Boxing Hour on Setanta Sports News that this was a fight that Pavlik could not afford to lose. He said:
Kelly Pavlik-Marco Antonio Rubio Match-Up
By Sam Gregory: This Saturday night, 26 year old Kelly Pavlik will put his undisputed middleweight title on the line at the Chevrolet Centre in his hometown of Youngstown, Ohio against WBC’s No. 1 challenger and lifelong resident of Torreon, Mexico, 28 year old Marco Antonio Rubio.
Pavlik-Rubio: Marco Has Nothing To Lose
By Manuel Perez: Kelly Pavlik (34-1, 30) comes into the fight having lost his last fight against an old Bernard Hopkins in his last fight and outclassed in every sense of the word, whereas Marco Antonio Rubio (43-4-1, 37 KOs) is coming off a gritty 12-round split decision over Enrique Ornelas in the WBC middleweight title eliminator match in October. In class, it would seem that Pavlik is a head above Rubio due to his incredible punching power and excellent chin, but Pavlik was made to look so bad in his last fight that anything is possible on Saturday.
Rubio Confident in Secret Plan to Dethrone Pavlik
YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO (February 18, 2009) – No. 1 contender and mandatory challenger MARCO ANTONIO RUBIO worked out in front of a full media contingent yesterday in Youngstown, including two network affiliate television stations which broadcast live from the gym. Rubio challenges World Middleweight Champion KELLY “The Ghost” PAVLIK this Saturday, February 21, at the sold-out Chevrolet Centre in Youngstown, Ohio. The Pavlik-Rubio rumble headlines a two-city / two-world title doubleheader broadcast Live on Pay-Per-View.