Gennady Golovkin to Defend WBA, IBO Titles Against WBC Champ Marco Antonio Rubio

Gennady Golovkin will fight Marco Antonio Rubio on Oct. 18 from the StubHub Center in Carson, Calif. “GGG’s” World Boxing Association and International Boxing Organization middleweight world titles will be on the line against “El Venero’s” World Boxing Council interim belt.

The bout was announced via press release on Wednesday. The main event will be 12-rounds and air on HBO.

With an undefeated mark of 30-0-0 with 27 knockouts, Golovkin will be looking to make his 12th title defense. Most recently, Golovkin finished two-time former world champion Daniel Geale in the third round to attain his 17th consecutive knockout finish.

Golovkin will begin training next week in Big Bear, Calif., with famed boxing coach Abel Sanchez.

“I’m very excited to fight in California,” Golovkin said in the release. “I always enjoy attending fights at the StubHub Center and look forward to a “Mexican style” fight against Marco Antonio Rubio.”

Meanwhile, Rubio has garnered a career record of 59-6-1 with 51 knockouts in 66 total bouts. The Torreon, Mexico, native has faced the likes of Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., Kelly Pavlik, David Lemieux, Kassim Ouma, Frankie Randall and Jose Luis Zertuche in his career.

The 34-year-old is currently 16-1 in his last seventeen bouts, most recently stopping Italian veteran Dominic Spada in the 10th round on April 5 in Chihuahua, Mexico, to win the WBC interim middleweight title.

“I’m excited to fight another world champion,” Rubio said. “I always accept the biggest challenges and without a doubt this will be the greatest of my career. I will show Golovkin a real “Mexican style” fight on Oct. 18.”

The fight is being co-promoted by Wladimir Klitschko-owned K2 Promotions, along with GGG Promotions which works in association with Promociones Del Pueblo.