Roberto Garcia vs. Juan Carlos Rubio
Roberto Garcia 147 lbs beat Juan Carlos Rubio 147 lbs by UD in round 12 of 12
- Date: 2006-03-10
- Location: La Villa Real Convention Center, McAllen, Texas, USA
- Referee: Laurence Cole
- Judge: Ray Hawkins 115-112
- Judge: Bill Paige 119-108
- Judge: Gale Van Hoy 116-111
Garcia pummeled Rubio for 12 rounds to win the IBA Americas Welterweight belt. Garcia (20-2) was the aggressor throughout but did not put Rubio on the canvas until the final round. "I’m so happy I beat him," said Garcia, 25. "He’s ranked No. 10 in the world (by the WBC). This is a great accomplishment." Garcia won a unanimous decision before a delirious, packed crowd. With scores of 115-112, 116-111, and 119-108.
The fight was intense. Rubio suffered a cut over his right eye after an accidental head butt during the eighth round. The fighters had to be separated for continuing to punch after the bell after rounds No. 9 and No. 10. Both fighters rested in the 11th, saving their energy for what proved to be a wild final round. Told by his corner men he had to have a knockout to win, Garcia went after Rubio throwing hammers to his jaw. Rubio appeared exhausted and fell two minutes into the round when Garcia connected with a savage right hand. Rubio bounced forward off the ropes and rolled up Garcia’s ankles as he fell, knocking both fighters down. About 25 seconds later, Rubio again was knocked clean the ropes, Rubio took about 20 seconds to reenter the ring, but was ruled a push.
"I would hurt him, and he would come back," said Garcia, who fielded question while holding an ice pack over his left eye. "The difference was in punches. He would land flurries. I would land bombs." Rubio, 32, concurred. He said he injured his left hand in the second round and that inhibited his punching power. "He hits very hard," Rubio (32-8-3) said. "My shots were at 40 percent while his were 100 percent."
Rubio said he would like to fight Garcia again but at a lighter weight. That doesn’t seem likely as Garcia referred to himself as a "natural welterweight" and is now looking ahead to a possible fight on HBO later this spring.