and Melody Gustafson
YOUNGSTOWN -- At the Chevrolet Center Saturday, before a loyal and jovial crowd, the Mexican contender Rubio threw in the towel, forfeiting to the Youngstown native, "The Ghost." It was the first championship fight ever held in the city.
World Boxing Council (WBC) No.1 contender Marco Antonio Rubio (43-5-1, 37 KOs) challenged world middleweight champion Kelly "The Ghost" Pavlik (35-1, 31 KO), to win his WBC and World Boxing Organization (WBO) belts.
As the announcer introduced the oponents to the crowd, the wildly enthusiastic audience cheered and chanted "Pavlik! Pavlik!" The Pavlik-loving loyalists then booed Rubio when he entered the ring.
At the end of the ninth round, Rubio was visibly pained and crying, losing strength, and facing a definite overall loss after only winning the 6th round. Pavlik appeared to reserve his energy, picking up force and impact as the rounds progressed. Facing a deluge of punches that rocked his lights, the challenger forfeited.
Rubio refused to re-enter the ring for the 10th round, officially ending the match. Pavlik is still the middleweight boxing champion of the world.
