.jpg)
ATLANTA – Erickson Lubin laughed off Jeison Rosario’s knockout prediction prior to them coming face to face at a press conference Thursday.
Lubin believes Rosario is underestimating the southpaw’s power as their 12-round WBC super welterweight elimination match nears. Regardless, Rosario reminded him that their fascinating fight won’t go the distance Saturday night on the Gervonta Davis-Mario Barrios undercard at State Farm Arena.
“I’m absolutely ready to do whatever it takes to win,” Rosario said during a press conference at the Omni Atlanta Hotel at CNN Center. “I possess the power in my hands to end the fight both in the first round and in the 12th round. And I’m ready both physically and mentally to endure the 12 rounds, if needed, to come out victorious in the end.”
Rosario will return to the ring from an eighth-round knockout loss to Jermell Charlo in their title unification fight September 26 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.
As the WBC’s number one contender in the 154-pound division, Lubin (23-1, 16 KOs) is in position to land his own rematch with Charlo (34-1, 18 KOs). Charlo knocked out Lubin with one punch in the first round of their title fight in October 2017 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
Facing the third-ranked Rosario (20-2-1, 14 KOs) is risky for the ambitious Lubin, but the Orlando, Florida, native didn’t want a tune-up fight while waiting for the winner of the Charlo-Brian Castano clash July 17 at AT&T Center in San Antonio. Lubin is anxious to prove he can withstand Rosario’s power in the co-feature of this four-fight Showtime Pay-Per-View event (9 p.m. EDT; $74.99).
“I thought it was a joke,” Lubin said of Rosario’s knockout prediction. “I thought he was just saying stuff. He may think he gonna go in there and try to knock me out or whatever. But it’s boxing. I got skills like no other and I’m just gonna show it on Saturday. I’d rather not do no talking. You know, that’s just talk. When you go in the ring, when the bell go ding, it’s time to show all that sh*t you was talking.”
The Dominican Republic’s Rosario expects his fight with Lubin to upstage the main event, Davis’ debut in the 140-pound division.
“People can expect a war,” Rosario said. “I’m a warrior and I love to be inside the ring, fighting that war. I want people to be happy. I want people to enjoy this fight. That’s the most important thing to me. I know Lubin is gonna come prepared. So am I. And it’s gonna be an absolutely great show.”
Sports books consistently list Lubin as nearly a 3-1 favorite to win their high-stakes showdown. Lubin has won five consecutive contests entering his bout versus Rosario, who upset heavily favored Julian Williams (27-2-1, 16 KOs, 1 NC) by fifth-round technical knockout in their fight for Williams’ IBF, IBO and WBA 154-pound crowns in January 2020 at Temple University’s Liacouras Center in Philadelphia.
Following his loss to Charlo, Rosario hired a new trainer, Herman Caicedo, who once worked with Lubin. The 25-year-old Lubin doesn’t consider that a disadvantage because he feels like a completely different fighter from when Caicedo trained him.
“I think [Rosario] just thinks he’ll go in there and possesses power,” Lubin said. “But I got power, too. I got power in both hands and I got the skills. So, he gonna have to worry about more than just power with me.”
Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.