By Mark Vester

Before a packed crowd at the Chevrolet Center in Youngstown, Ohio, Kelly Pavlik (35-1, 31KOs) stopped Marco Antonio Rubio (43-5-1, 38KOs) after nine rounds of one-sided action to retain the WBO/WBC middleweight titles. Pavlik's first bout since the decision loss to Bernard Hopkins last October at the catch-weight of 170-pounds.

Pavlik came out very active in the first, doubling up with the jab and ripped left hands to the head and body. Pavlik digging hard to the body and backing Rubio up with lead hooks. In the final minute, Pavlik landed two huge right hands that stunned Rubio and drove him back to the ropes. In the second, Rubio appeared to be very defensive and almost in fear of Pavlik's power. The hero of Youngstown continued to move forward with power shots.

Rubio began to throw more punches in the third round. Pavlik would drill him back with the jab and right hands. The left eye of Pavlik began to swell up after a Rubio right hand. Pavlik fired back with combinations to the head and body. They traded some punches in the fourth but Pavlik's shots were much harder and forced Rubio to retreat. The fifth round was a blowout with Pavlik beating Rubio around from post to post. In the sixth, Rubio tried to stage a rally and actually began to trade punches with Pavlik.

Rubio continued to stand his ground in the seventh. Pavlik was pounding him with much harder and much better shots. Pavlik was happy to continue trading in the eight. Rubio tried to counter and punch, but was never able to get off with too many shots. During the eight round action, Pavlik stunned him bad with a right hand and the two of the them would trade big shots against the ropes for the final thirty seconds. Pavlik continued to let his hands go in the ninth, picking his shots and punishing Rubio. The ninth was target practice with punches hitting Rubio all over his body.

Before the start of the tenth, Rubio told his corner that he wasn't willing to take anymore punishment and the fight was stopped.

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