Erickson Lubin’s slugfest against Sebastian Fundora last year was on the fight-of-the-year contender shortlist.
Lubin was ahead on two of the scorecards by one point and even on a third after nine rounds, but he was fading and his face was starting to reconform beyond recognition. His corner ultimately stopped the scrap and saved Lubin from serious damage, and an opportunity to see another fight.
Lubin (25-2, 18 KOs) returned earlier this year and scored a fifth-round stoppage win against Luis Arias, and the victory has now set him up with an attractive crossroads fight against up-and-coming contender Jesus Ramos Jr. (20-0, 16 KOs)
The 12-round super welterweight fight will serve as chief support for the card headlined by Canelo Alvarez vs. Jermell Charlo at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Sept. 30 on Showtime pay-per-view.
“The mindset hasn’t changed for me. I still have a chip on my shoulder. I’m going into this fight very hungry. I have a young, hungry kid in front of me, but I’m young and hungry as well. You can expect fireworks on September 30. I’m looking to win and be in the big fights against the best guys in the division,” Lubin said during a Los Angeles press conference.
“The Luis Arias fight was a good comeback fight. I knew that with the way we trained, I was gonna dominate. That was eight weeks ago and now I’m happy we have only a few weeks to go for this one. I’m coming for another statement win.
“I’m looking for a one-sided ass-whooping. I want to go in there and come out with the victory, untouched.”
The 27-year-old Lubin has been a known commodity ever since signing a promotional contract with Mike Tyson as an 18-year-old getting ready to make a professional run starting in 2013.
He was fast-tracked to a world title shot against Jermell Charlo in 2017 in just his 18th fight, and he suffered a first-round knockout in the fight.
Throughout his career, he’s scored wins against the likes of Jeison Rosario, Terrell Gausha, Nathaniel Gallimore, Ishe Smith, and Jorge Cota,
“I’m fueled by adversity. My first title challenge against Charlo brought me back to working really hard and eventually winning six fights in a row. I was winning the fight against Sebastian Fundora and losing fueled me to go back to the drawing board and work even harder,” said Lubin.
“Ramos is a real solid fighter. I watched his last fight and I thought he looked good. But I’m not Joey Spencer. I’m one of those top guys in the division. I’m the cream of the crop and I’m here to prove myself. I want the toughest test every time out.”
As complimentary as “The Hammer” Lubin may have been of Ramos, he feels that the Casa Grande, Arizona-based phenom will be nailed with the same fate and scenario he experienced himself.
“I’m definitely not downplaying Ramos, but I was 22 years old like him and I took a step up in competition against a 27-year-old and fell short. I think history repeats itself, but in my favor,” said Lubin.
“This win solidifies that I belong at the top. It shows that I need a title shot. The winner of this fight will definitely get a big fight.”
Manouk Akopyan is a sports journalist, writer, and broadcast reporter. He’s also a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America and the MMA Journalists Association. He can be reached on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube at @ManoukAkopyan, through email at manouk[dot]akopyan[at]gmail.com, or via www.ManoukAkopyan.com.