Erickson Lubin’s career could’ve unraveled once Jermell Charlo knocked him out with one punch in the first round of their 154-pound title fight nearly three years ago.

Lubin instead responded by winning five consecutive fights. The resilient southpaw’s points win against Terrell Gausha on Saturday night again established him as the WBC’s mandatory challenger for its super welterweight title.

By beating Gausha in a 12-round main event Showtime televised, the 24-year-old Lubin guaranteed himself a second shot at the title he failed to win when he challenged Charlo in October 2017 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. Lubin (23-1, 16 KOs) is in position to face the winner of the title unification fight this Saturday night between Houston’s Charlo (33-1, 17 KOs) and the Dominican Republic’s Jeison Rosario (20-1-1, 14 KOs) at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut, the same venue where Lubin beat Cleveland’s Gausha (21-2-1, 10 KOs).

“That just goes to show my character,” Lubin said during a press conference after defeating Gausha. “You know, I faced adversity and I bounced back. I’ve been through worse in my life. So, you know, for me to bounce back the way I did, it just tells you a lot about me. I’m a warrior. I’m a fighter. I’ve been fighting my whole life.

“So, you know, I’m right back to the mandatory spot. I’m the mandatory for the WBC title. And, you know, I’m ready to become champion. I thank [WBC president] Mauricio Sulaiman for giving me this WBC silver strap. I’m ready for the world title.”

Lubin told BoxingScene.com before his victory over Gausha that he expects Charlo to beat the rugged Rosario, who upset heavily favored Julian Williams (27-2-1, 16 KOs, 1 NC) by fifth-round technical knockout January 18 in Philadelphia to win the IBF, IBO and WBA titles. Though Lubin obviously wants a chance to avenge his devastating defeat to Charlo, he would gladly oppose Rosario if Rosario knocks off another favored champion in the main event of a Showtime Pay-Per-View card ($74.95).

“My preference is that title, you know,” said Lubin, who beat Gausha by scores of 118-110, 116-112 and 115-113. “All them titles, you know. There’s three titles on the line [in the Charlo-Rosario fight]. That’s what I want. I want them titles. I’m gonna be tuned in for sure. But may the best man win.”

Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.