The only loss and lone draw on Terrell Gausha’s record have come against southpaws.

Erickson Lubin, Gausha’s opponent Saturday night, is left-handed, too. That, Lubin promised, is the only thing he has in common with Lara and Trout.

Lara remains a 154-pound title-holder and Trout is a former champion, but Lubin envisions giving Gausha the most decisive defeat of his seven-year pro career. The winner of their 12-round WBC elimination match will become that sanctioning organization’s mandatory challenger for whoever emerges victorious from the Jermell Charlo-Jeison Rosario title unification fight September 26.

“I think he’s a solid opponent,” Lubin told BoxingScene.com regarding Gausha. “He has the experience of being in the Olympics [in 2012], a pretty decent amateur background, and you know, he’s fought guys like Erislandy Lara and Austin Trout. But, you know, those two guys aren’t Erickson Lubin. I’m way younger [24], I’m hungrier, I’m fresh, and I’m looking to make a statement Saturday night.”

Lara (27-3-3, 15 KOs) beat Gausha by unanimous decision in their 12-round fight for Lara’s WBA and IBO titles in October 2017 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. Then 34, Lara knocked down Gausha in the fourth round and won that bout comfortably on all three scorecards (117-110, 117-110, 116-111).

Gausha and Trout (32-5-1, 18 KOs), who was 33 at that time, boxed to a 10-round split draw in May 2019 at Beau Rivage Resort & Casino in Biloxi, Mississippi.

“I definitely watched those fights and I seen the trouble that he had,” Lubin said of Gausha. “And I’m gonna definitely try to take full advantage of it come Saturday night.”

The 33-year-old Gausha (21-1-1, 10 KOs) hasn’t fought in the nearly 16 months since he settled for a draw with Trout. The Cleveland native won that fight, 99-91, on the scorecard of judge Tony Roberts, but judge John Dixson scored it 96-94 for Trout and judge Bill Hunter had it even (95-95).

“I felt like Gausha won that fight, but it was definitely closer than how a lot of people seen it,” said Lubin, an Orlando, Florida, native who is 22-1, including 16 knockouts. “It was definitely closer, so I kind of see where the judges had it a draw because a lot of the shots Trout was landing was very unnecessary for Terrell Gausha to take. It wasn’t as significant as the shots Terrell was landing, but he was still landing shots. He was very close in the punches landed column. But I’ve seen the mistakes that [Gausha] makes and I’m definitely gonna capitalize on the mistakes that he makes.”

Showtime will air Lubin-Gausha as the main event of a three-bout broadcast from Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. The telecast, which will start at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT, also will consist of two 10-round bouts.

In the opener, Philadelphia welterweight Jaron Ennis (25-0, 23 KOs) will battle Dominican veteran Juan Carlos Abreu (23-5-1, 21 KOs, 1 NC). In the following fight, Mongolian featherweight contender Tugstsogt Nyambayar (11-1, 9 KOs) will box Breedy (15-0, 5 KOs), of Hyattsville, Maryland. 

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