Highlights
–Erickson Lubin put Jose De Jesus Macias on the defensive from the opening bell. The southpaw’s straight left over a stiff jab forced circular retreat as he calmly absorbed or defended Macias’ counters and evenly distributed second-round body shots.
–Following a third-round during which he planted his feet and unloaded several blistering body shots, Lubin used a counter right hook to score a ruled knockdown in Round 5 as Macias’ right glove touched the canvas.
–After going toe to toe with Macias in the eighth and ninth rounds, Lubin punctuated his near shutout victory in the 10th with a fight-ending, four-punch combination, all to the head.
Erickson Lubin has taken to calling his right hand “The Jackhammer” and his left “The Sledgehammer.” And while the 20-year-old southpaw failed to record his fifth consecutive knockout Sunday night, he certainly displayed his double-fisted power—not to mention a resolute chin—as he remained unbeaten and continued his march from prospect to contender.
Erickson Lubin pops Jose De Jesus Macias with a jab to the forehead during Sunday's bout in Immokalee, Florida. (James Luedde/Premier Boxing Champions)
With a partisan crowd at Seminole Casino Hotel in Immokalee, Florida, chanting his nickname “Hammer,” Lubin delivered viciously to the head and body, absorbed counter shots and scored a fifth-round knockdown en route to a 10-round, near-shutout victory over Jose De Jesus Macias.
Two judges had it 100-89, while a third scored it 99-90.
Despite failing to continue his stoppage streak, Lubin (14-0, 10 KOs) did nothing to slow his momentum as one of boxing’s hottest 154-pound prospects, as the Orlando, Florida, resident dominated the 24-year-old De Jesus Macias (18-5-2, 9 KOs).
Lubin attacked from the outset, using a straight left over a stiff jab and vicious second- and third-round body shots that forced Macias to retreat. The ruled knockdown occurred in the fifth, when Lubin connected with a counter right hook that caused Macias’ right glove to briefly touch the canvas.
A native of Mexico who was making his U.S. debut, Macias gave nearly as good as he received in the eighth and ninth, standing toe to toe and matching the powerful Lubin to the head and body. The crowd appreciated the effort, encouraging Macias with chants of “Mexico.”
But Lubin once again stepped up the pressure in the 10th, punctuating the night with a round-ending four-punch combination, all to the head.
For Lubin, the 10-round affair marked the longest bout of his young career. It also matched the number of rounds he fought over his previous four contests combined.
