Kelly Pavlik Beats Marco Antonio Rubio

Posted Feb 21, 2009 11:55PM By Michael David Smith (RSS feed)

Filed Under: WBC, WBO

World middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik defeated Marco Antonio Rubio Saturday night with an easy, one-sided TKO victory in his home town of Youngstown, Ohio.

Pavlik, who was fighting for the first time since his lopsided loss to Bernard Hopkins in October, had no trouble controlling the pace of the fight, using his jab and his straight right hand to back Rubio away at will.

Rubio mounted almost no offense at all for much of the fight, and finally, after Pavlik battered him for nine rounds, Rubio didn't answer the bell for the 10th.

Still, for as one-sided a fight as it was, it wasn't a great performance from Pavlik. He never sent Rubio to the canvas and often looked hesitant. The way Rubio fought tonight, it's hard to see why a champion like Pavlik needed nine rounds to finish him off.

Pavlik, who improved his record to 35-1, retained his Ring Magazine, WBO and WBC middleweight titles. Rubio fell to 43-5-1.

"There's no place like home," Pavlik said in the ring afterward. "What a way to bounce back in front of my hometown."

Pavlik vs. Rubio Photos

Boxer Marco Antonio Rubo, of Mexico, throws a punch at Kelly Pavlik in the second round of a WBC/WBO World Middleweight Championship fight on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2009 in Youngstown, Ohio. (AP Photo/David Richard)

Boxer Kelly Pavlik, left, lands a punch against Marco Antonio Rubo, of Mexico, during the ninth round of a WBC/WBO World Middleweight Championship fight on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2009, in Youngstown, Ohio. (AP Photo/David Richard)

Boxer Kelly Pavlik, left, throws a right hook in the second round of a WBC/WBO World Middleweight Championship fight against Marco Antonio Rubo, of Mexico, on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2009, in Youngstown, Ohio. (AP Photo/David Richard)

Marco Antonio Rubo, of Mexico, sits in his corner after failing to answer the bell for the 10th round of a WBC/WBO World Middleweight Championship fight against Kelly Pavlik on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2009, in Youngstown, Ohio. (AP Photo/David Richard)

Boxer Kelly Pavlik has his arm raised in victory by referee Frank Garza, right, after challenger Marco Antonio Rubo, of Mexico, failed to come out for the 10th round of a WBC/WBO World Middleweight Championship fight on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2009 at Chevrolet Centre in Youngstown, Ohio. (AP Photo/David Richard)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

2-22-2009 @ 12:11AM

FRANK said...

This one wasn't a walk in the park
Rubio came to fight to the end ;
Critics can kiss my ass and some of them
don't know much about the sweet science
bottom line, a good victory for Pavlik
NOT ala Cotto-Jennings that one was
a walk in the park for Cotto.

2-22-2009 @ 12:14AM

neiljdennis said...

Good show, but you could tell Pavlik was holding back. he shouldn't have. He gave his opponent too much credit. There were several opportunities to end it, but he let Rubio fight his way out every time. A good, but no great performance from Kelly. Next fight will be better, regardless if it's Duddy or Abraham.

2-22-2009 @ 8:08AM

wildmancomet said...

Pavlik fought a good fight. He must of been a little nervous for his first comeback fight, but lets see him fight Abraham over in England. I think Pavlik can beat him, regardless of what the judges will be told to do by the boxing commision. Strang things happen overseas, unless their is a knockout. Go Kelly!

2-22-2009 @ 9:49AM

Mike said...

Good work by Pavlick. I know what it is to come back from your first loss and it is usually tentative. He will be his old self now that his xconfidence is back.

2-22-2009 @ 10:07AM

larsengold said...

Kelly Pavlik flat out kicked his a@@. Rubio "didn't want anymore". His corner didn't call it quits. Rubio did. He was practically crying sitting in the corner after the 9th round. Way to go Pavlik. You made Youngstown PROUD.

2-22-2009 @ 12:42PM

thadirty said...

imma big pavlik fan. i gave him the benefit of the doubt vs hopkins because of the weight difference. but after last night, i might need another boxer to follow. against a fighter like abraham, kelly aint gotta chance

2-22-2009 @ 1:55PM

Bell family said...

I did not get to see the fight, but told my husband that Kelly Pavlik would kick a**. I thought he would have him beat by 5 rounds. But 9 rounds?!? Well, anyhow way 2 go Kelly!!!