Marco Antonio Rubio Stops Mohammed Akrong In 5th-Round Of A Slugfest!

By James Slater: Mexico’s Marco Antonio Rubio scored a 5th-round TKO over a game Mohammed Akrong of Ghana last night, in what turned out to be a sensational battle. The 31-year-old Rubio, fighting in his homeland, scored with a big left hand to the body in the 5th, and down went 28-year-old Akrong. Though be bounced straight back up, the referee decided Akrong had seen enough and stopped the fight. A good call by the ref.

Rubio is now 52-5-1(45). Akrong is now 13-4(10).

Having his first fight outside of Ghana, the little-known Akrong sure made a name for himself last night. If Rubio was hoping for a relatively easy fight to keep him busy while he plays the waiting game with regards to his shot at WBC middleweight titlist Julio Cesar Chavez Junior, he soon realised he was in anything but an easy one.

The action was terrific, with the 3rd-round being a ROTY candidate. The two went to war in a sizzling slugfest, and both men threw a ton of leather – most of which landed. A hard left uppercut to the chin hurt Akrong, only for the younger man to come firing back himself. Rubio was forced to eat some serious shots to the head. A great round indeed.

The war continued in the 4th, as Akrong drove Rubio into the ropes once again and unloaded. Rubio staggered his man briefly and then took his turn to drive him backwards. Great action, which the big crowd was thoroughly enjoying. Akrong’s face was showing signs of swelling by now, but he was as game as hell. Some hard body work was landed by Rubio, his heavy hands doing more damage. Akrong was badly hurt in the closing seconds of the 4th, and he stumbled into the ropes.

The end came in a wild 5th-round. A body shot followed by a long left to the head wobbled Akrong and Rubio went for it with both hands. Akrong came back once again though! The two fought through the pain, neither guy backing down, until, after taking some bruising blows, Akrong at last crumpled. A left to the midsection dropped the visitor, and though the bloody-faced warrior from Ghana beat the count he was both tired and hurt. No-one complained about the stoppage.

Not too much was expected from last night’s fight, with a relatively easy and straightforward win for Rubio anticipated. Instead, the fans witnessed a savage dog fight; one that should at least get an “honourable mention” when it comes to 2011’s FOTY!

But how much did last night’s fight take out of Rubio?