Rubio Vs. Golovkin: GGG Knocks Out Marco Rubio In Second Round For 18th Consecutive KO! [VIDEO]

CARSON – Gennady Golovkin (31-0, 28 Kos) annihilated Marco Antonio Rubio (59-7-1 51 Kos) with a crushing second round knockout on Saturday night to extend his knockout streak to 18. The man known as the “most dangerous fighter” in all of boxing drilled Rubio with a heavy left hand that sent him collapsing to the mat. With the win, Golovkin retained his world title and claimed the vacant interim title as well.

The crowd at the StubHub Center in Carson, CA which is home to the Los Angeles Galaxy of MLS Soccer was a mostly Hispanic crowd who was rooting heavily for Rubio. However, Golovkin, who was making his first appearance fighting on the West Coast, wore Dodger blue trunks with the LA logo on them in an effort to earn some of the support of the crowd. The move worked as Golovkin entered the ring to cheers from the crowd and received a standing ovation after his huge knockout in the second round.

For the most devoted of fight fans, the bout was a bit of a laugher as Rubio did not appear ready to fight since Friday. Rubio came to the weigh in two pounds overweight, and took a lot of hard shots to the head in the first round. By the time the second round rolled around, he was a punching bag for Golovkin who nailed Rubio with a right and left hook before dropping the Mexican boxer like a sack of potatoes.

Oddly, Rubio stayed down on the mat for an unusually long amount of time after the knock down, and appeared like he was resting before getting up. Referee, Jack Reiss, came over to the mat and started his count at five as Rubio tried to get to his feet, but it was too late as he could not get to a standing position by the time the referee counted to ten. After the fight was called, Rubio looked shocked, believing that he had made it to his feet in time, while simultaneously accusing the referee of starting his count late.

“I came to fight and to put on a good show for the fans. I got up, but the referee decided to stop it,” said Rubio after the fight.

Rubio later told reporters, he did not hear the referee’s count and thought he had more time. Golovkin retained his title for the 12^th time and is now in third place all time for the most middleweight title defenses. Additionally, he is now the leader amongst active fighters for the highest knockout percentage at 90.3 percent.

“The uppercut – he was very badly hurt and I knew I had him,” said GGG after the bout. “I was happy he came forward. He fought Mexican style and he tried to hurt me, but my power was too much for him tonight.”

Golovkin has been learning Spanish recently and spoke a little bit of it to the heavily Mexican crowd. In fact, Mexican baseball superstar, Adrian Gonzalez, of the Los Angeles Dodgers was in attendance for the fight and was very impressed by Golovkin. Gennady plans to move to Los Angeles and fight more on the West Coast in the years to come. He’s had difficulty as of late to find anyone willing to fight him, but by winning the vacant interim title tonight, he is now the mandatory challenger to fight world champion Miguel Cotto. Cotto will have one more fight scheduled for May of 2015, (likely against Canelo Alvarez), and the winner of that fight would then have to face Golovkin or forfeit the belt. Golovkin in the meantime said he will fight anyone, anywhere, anytime.

“I will fight anybody. I think first Miguel Cotto,” he said. “I respect Canelo, he is good, but Chavez, too. But first, Miguel Cotto.”