Rubio: Pavlik’s Fans Will See Me Knock Him Out

[mickyward5656]

By Lyle Fitzsimmons - Marco Antonio Rubio has been there.

He knows what it feels like.

And come this weekend, he’s hoping to share the misery with one Kelly Pavlik.

“A loss has an absolute effect on a fighter, any fighter,” the 28-year-old Mexican told BoxingScene.com, through interpreter Julio Gudino. “Whether he’ll admit it or not, everything is different. And no matter what, it does take a little bit of time to recoup.

“That might be to our advantage on Saturday night.”

Rubio, a former regional champion at 154 pounds, gets his initial crack at world middleweight glory when he meets WBC/WBO champion Pavlik at what figures to be a jam-packed Chevrolet Centre in the incumbent’s Youngstown, Ohio hometown.

The main event shares the spotlight on a two-site Bob Arum pay-per-view production – packaged with a comebacking Miguel Cotto’s try for the vacant WBO welterweight title against British import Michael Jennings.

Cotto hasn’t fought since losing his WBA title and his unblemished record against Antonio Margarito last summer.

Similarly, it’ll be Pavlik’s first appearance since his first setback, a one-sided decision loss to Bernard Hopkins in a catch-weight bout last October in New Jersey.

A heavy betting favorite going in, Pavlik was dominated for nearly every minute of every round against Hopkins, eventually losing by a combined 31 points on three ringside scorecards.

And suddenly, though he didn’t forfeit his middleweight kingpin status, the 34-0 record Pavlik carried in looks a bit different at 34-1.

Rubio is hoping it’ll feel different, too. [details]

Well Marco, Im not driving a few hundered miles saturday to see my boy kelly lose. i think you my friend are going down late, and hard. also Willie Nelson is going to the fight lol. apparently he is a big Pavlik fan.

[-Antonio-]

Rubio is no Lockett, he will be competitive. There's no doubt in my mind. I still see a stoppage around the 7th round by Pavlik, but it'll be a good scrap.

Rubio needs to chill with the fake tanning by the way. Dude looks bronze.

[Bababoey970]

I think Rubio Has a punchers chance but other than that Pavilik will beat him>

[whoop_dat_trick]

Rubio is no Lockett, he will be competitive. There's no doubt in my mind. I still see a stoppage around the 7th round by Pavlik, but it'll be a good scrap.

Rubio needs to chill with the fake tanning by the way. Dude looks bronze.

i'm pretty sure he isn't tanning rather he has a Skin pigmentation disorder.

[-Antonio-]

i'm pretty sure he isn't tanning rather he has a Skin pigmentation disorder.

I'm an ******* then.

[DarchinyFAN]

Rubio has the power to KO Pavlik (the man can punch like a mule), but he just doesnt have the skill (I mean Pavlik isnt a technical wizard in there, but Rubio makes him look like Leonard).

[Kobe Bryant]

He will get torched..............

[lopez36]

i wouldn' doubt a rubio win,both hit hard,both of their defences isn't the best,and i wouldn't say pavlik has more skills,both have the same style,which is come forward,,,pavlik has been ko'd,so why can't this man win?...if he does i hope the excuses don't start coming,because pavlik would have none,he's facing the #1 contender,someone who is hungry for a title and pavlik is fighting in his hometown trying to come back from defeat,,no excuses if he loses.

[DrewWoodside]

This is clearly the blueprint. Jack Leow will be watching this 1:22 of footage over and over till fight night.

[MELLY-MEL...]

i wouldn' doubt a rubio win,both hit hard,both of their defences isn't the best,and i wouldn't say pavlik has more skills,both have the same style,which is come forward,,,pavlik has been ko'd,so why can't this man win?...if he does i hope the excuses don't start coming,because pavlik would have none,he's facing the #1 contender,someone who is hungry for a title and pavlik is fighting in his hometown trying to come back from defeat,,no excuses if he loses.

pavlik was koed? news to me.