Golovkin vs. Rubio Results: HBO Boxing Play-by-Play

Undercard Results

Walter Sarnoia Def. Sergio Najera Decision (Unanimous) [40-35, 40-35, 39-26] R5 3:00

Ruslan Madiyev Def. Oscar Rojas Decision (Unanimous) [40-35, 40-35, 40-35] R5 3:00

Jaime Ocegueda Def. Moris Rodriguez TKO R6 2:31

Abraham Han Def. Marcos Reyes Decision (Majority) [97-91, 97-91, 94-94] R10 3:00

Edwin Rodriguez Def. Azea Augustama Decision (Unanimous) [100-90, 100-90, 99-91] R10 3:00

Nonito Donaire vs. Nicholas Walters

Round 1

The fighters meet in the center of the ring and begin to circle to their lefts, as both fighters are orthodox. Walters breaks an extended feeling-out process with a left hook to the body. Donaire works off a job but seems uncomfortable early. Right hand lead connects for Walters. Donaire answers back with two right-hand leads of his own. The second connects. Walters drops Donaire with a glancing right straight on the chin, but the referee rules it a slip. Questionable call there, as it looked like a knockdown. Walters is scoring with his right hand. Nice jab for Walters.

Sherdog Scores

Mike Sloan scores the round: 10-9 Walters
C.J. Tuttle scores the round: 10-9 Walters
Mike Fridley scores the round: 10-9 Walters

Round 2

Donaire sets a more up-beat pace to start round two. Donaire is scoring early in the form of a right straight and left hook to the body. Donaire is getting at Walters now. Walters guard turns high, but he continues to move forward. Donaire connects with a left hook to the groin protector and Walters is given time to shake it off. The action resumes and Walters scores with a left hook. Walters picks it up and he’s got Donaire on the retreat with hooks to the body. The counter-punching Donaire then blasts Walters with a left hook just before the bell.

Sherdog Scores

Mike Sloan scores the round: 10-9 Donaire
C.J. Tuttle scores the round: 10-9 Donaire
Mike Fridley scores the round: 10-9 Donaire

Round 3

Donaire starts where he left off in round three. Walters stands his ground and scores with a double left hook to the body. Donaire appears to be the better counter fighter early as he clips his foe with a right hook. The pace slows as both fighters exchange jabs in the center of the ring. Head movement from both boxers. An uppercut connects with the chin of Donaire and he tastes the canvas for the first time in his career. He stands quickly and both fighters land right hooks before the bell. The arena is on its feet.

Sherdog Scores

Mike Sloan scores the round: 10-8 Walters
C.J. Tuttle scores the round: 10-8 Walters
Mike Fridley scores the round: 10-8 Walters

Round 4

Walters comes out patiently in the fourth, pawing out that jab. Donaire looks to not have totally cleared his head yet and it very cautious. Walters rakes the Filipino again and again. Donaire is backing away, trying to set a trap. The cut over the right eye is bothering Doniare, who is slowly eroding before our eyes. Walters goes to the body with a left and then upstairs. Again the Jamaican snaps the five-division champ's head back with his jab. Walters is in total control.

Sherdog Scores

Mike Sloan scores the round: 10-9 Walters
C.J. Tuttle scores the round: 10-9 Walters
Mike Fridley scores the round: 10-9 Walters

Round 5

Donaire again is tentative to start the round, not looking to throw his harder shots. Walters patiently stalks his foe, looking to attack. Walters pops him with a short left hook on the inside. Donaire returns the favors with a double left of his won, followed by a right hand. Donaire finally opens up, throwing three more left hooks. Walters smiles and answers in kind. Donaire walks into the left jab after absorbing a hook to the gut. The Filipino Flash cracks him with a right hand under the double jab, but is backed into the ropes. Walters lets his hands go to the head and body, re-opening that cut. Very close round.

Sherdog Scores

Mike Sloan scores the round: 10-9 Walters
C.J. Tuttle scores the round: 10-9 Donaire
Mike Fridley scores the round: 10-9 Walters

Round 6

Donaire comes out of his corner tossing the jab. Walters counters with a right hand and then his jab. Donaire's left eye is now starting to swell up. The Jamaican ducks under a leaping right hand and digs to the body. Walters pins his foe onto the ropes and cracks Donaire with a right uppercut, but it's mostly blocked. Doanire again is backing away, looking to counter as Walters stalks him down. triple jab by the Jamaican, who is in complete control of the action. Walters delivers a slick right hand with ten seconds left. Donaire counters with a huge left hook that misses, allowing Walters to unfurl a massive right hand, dropping Donaire face first. The Filipino is in serious trouble as he flounders on the canvas, trying to get up. At the count of eight, Donaire stumbles up, but he is out on his feet. Referee Raul Caiz intelligently waives off his count as Donaire staggers to his right drunkenly.

The Official Result

Nicholas Walters Def. Nonito Donaire KO R6 2:59

Gennady Golovkin vs. Marco Antonio Rubio

Round 1

Rubio storms out of his corner and flicks the jab. Rubio throws a jab/right hand, but it misses. Golovkin snaps his head back with the left jab. The two trade jabs in the center of the ring until Golovkin lands a clanking right hand. Rubio regroups and goes to the body. Hard right/let by GGG. The middleweights lands left hooks to the body simultaneously. Thudding right hand by Golovkin backs Rubio up. Rubio is unfazed and comes right back at his Russian foe, going to the body and then the head. Golovkin tags him with a left and stiff right hand, but Rubio returns the favor with a right/left. They trade blows until the bell. Rubio puffs out his chest in a sign to show that he is not intimidated.

Sherdog Scores

Mike Sloan scores the round: 10-9 Golovkin
C.J. Tuttle scores the round: 10-9 Golovkin
Mike Fridley scores the round: 10-9 Golovkin

Round 2

Rubio taps GGG with a right hand to start the round. Moments later, Golovkin cracks him with a right hand and then goes to the ribs with a nasty left hook. Rubio comes right back with a shot to the liver, but Golovkin is undaunted. Rubio squares up and fires away, but he is nailed by a short right uppercut on the inside. The shot rocked him and he sags into the ropes as Golovkin pounds away. Rubio crumbles to the canvas, flat on his back. Rubio looks hurt but he’s not out. Referee Jack Riess stands over him, counting, until Rubio gets up at the count of ten. Rubio complains that he couldn’t hear the count but his protest is short-lived.

The Official Result

Gennady Golovkin Def. Marco Antonio Rubio KO R2 1:19