By Jake Donovan
Jorge Cota has slightly toned down the arrogance as fight night inches closer, though he still remains confident in securing victory over Marco Antonio Rubio this weekend. The unbeaten Mexican prospect from the boxing rich town of Los Mochis heads to Rubio’s hometown of Torreon, Mexico for Saturday’s battle, which airs live on Televisa.
The 24-year old Cota (12-0, 11KO) scored the biggest win of his career last November, stopping former 154 lb. titlist Yori Boy Campas in eight rounds. The win was a huge step up in class, giving Cota enough confidence to believe that he can fast track from prospect to contender status.
Therein lies the motivation to take on Rubio (53-6-1, 46KO), who is coming off of a failed title bid against Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. this past February. Rubio has twice swung and missed at middleweight title shots, suffering a 9th round stoppage loss to then-middleweight king Kelly Pavlik three years ago.
When the fight was first inked, Cota vowed to “retire Rubio” in the same fashion that he functionally put an end to Campas’ career. In the heat of fight week, Cota firmly believes that Saturday will mark a passing of the torch.
"I will prove that everything I said is not hearsay,” Cota insists. “I really want to take his place and if this requires sending him into retirement, so be it. (Rubio) is where I want to be. I don’t believe he will give me a free ride."
With that, Cota believes he is in for the toughest fight of his career, on paper. The undefeated fighter also believes that the fight will prove his time has arrived.
"I know that is not an easy fight,” Cota admits. “He has experience and I may not, but I have a great boxing ability and a strong punch. I never said he was old, but his best days are gone. He already had two title fights. He will not have another chance; this is my time.”
Jake Donovan is the Managing Editor of Boxingscene.com. Follow Jake on Twitter: @JakeNDaBox
