Marco Antonio Rubio vs. Enrique Ornelas
Marco Antonio Rubio 159 lbs beat Enrique Ornelas 160 lbs by SD in round 12 of 12
- Date: 2008-10-18
- Location: Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA
- Referee: Eddie Cotton
- Judge: Joseph Pasquale 116-112
- Judge: John Riley 113-115
- Judge: John Poturaj 115-113
In the best bout of the evening on the Pavlik-Hopkins fight card televised from Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, Mexico's Marco Antonio Rubio scored a split decision victory over Enrique Ornelas of California to secure the World Boxing Council's # 1 ranking and a shot at the WBC Middleweight title. Rubio, 43-4-1 with 37 kayos, spent the night aggressively counterpunching against Ornelas, 28-5-1 with 18 kayos, who came forward with rapid combinations and appeared to win the first four rounds. The next four rounds appeared close. The last four rounds appeared to belong to Rubio, who began coming forward and scoring jabs on Ornelas, who appeared to be fading. Rubio had a great eleventh round, landing head power punches at will on Ornelas, who was taking a beating on the ropes towards the end of the round, had a swollen left eye, and was saved by the bell. Rubio appeared to win a competitive twelfth.