By James Slater: Although Mexican bomber Marco Antonio Rubio earned a shot at the WBC middleweight title by smashing previously unbeaten, “next sure thing,” David Lemiuex back in April, he is still waiting for his chance. The real, genuine and, as Michael Buffer would put it, “universally accepted” world middleweight champion is Sergio Martinez, but Rubio will have the right to feel proud if he can defeat the man he is aiming for in Julio Cesar Chavez Junior; the “regular” WBC 160-pound boss.
But, to Rubio’s annoyance, he has been sidestepped by The Son Of A Legend. Angry at the way he is being made to wait, Rubio, 52-5-1(45) has remained active and in the gym. The man who unsuccessfully challenged then middleweight king Kelly Pavlik in February of 2009 won a routine 3rd-round TKO over the 8-1 Ricardo Ramallo in June of this year, then the 31-year-old TKO’d an ultra-game Mohamed Akrong in a 5th-round thriller last month.
Putting the pressure on Chavez Junior at every available opportunity, Rubio seems to have the fans firmly on his side. A good, honest warrior who also turns in the odd mini-classic, “El Veneno” more than deserves his shot. Keeping himself busy once more, with a possible December 17th date in the pipeline (according to Fightnews.com, there is the possibility Rubio could face tough Matt Vanda in Mexico on that date), Rubio has joined WBA light-middleweight champion Miguel Cotto’s Orlando, Florida training camp.
It’s not clear whether or not the two are doing any sparring together, but the experience will do both men nothing but good. Both are known hard workers in the gym and both aim to achieve much more before they’re through. Rubio wants that piece of the middleweight belt (and, assuming Chavez Junior can get past Peter Manfredo next month – which is no certainty by any means – he will have to accommodate Rubio next), while Cotto is absolutely desperate to avenge his 2008 stoppage loss to Antonio Margarito.
For what it’s worth, I think Cotto WILL get the win he is looking for on December 3rd, and I also feel Rubio’s heavy hands will be too much for Chavez Junior when he meets him in the ring. Both Rubio and Cotto are out for justice (Rubio having campaigned hard to earn his title shot, Cotto feeling, as do many others, that he was beaten by a Margarito with loaded hand-wraps three-and-half years ago): millions of fight fans are hoping they get it!