Dirrell-Rubio really had no place serving as the headliner on this PBC on CBS card. It was uncompetitive, sort of eventful, and all in all, played out as a glorified sparring match for Anthony Dirrell. Texan fans had previously witnessed another neck-and-neck battle in McDonnell-Kameda II in the co-feature, and then this followed. Dirrell shutout Marco Antonio Rubio with thrice scores of 100-90. We did not disagree.
OK, Dirrell-Rubio wasn’t a terrible bout. It was just hard to keep watching the cagey Rubio (59-8-1, 51 KO) keep coming forward in straight lines and unloading the same robotic attacks. Did he look weaker at Super Middleweight (or 170 pounds, whatever it was)? Or was he just outclassed? Who knows. The 35-year-old Mexican is highly likeable, but it wasn’t fun watching him get tagged with just about every shot Dirrell threw. Rubio’s tip-tap jab and general offense paled against Dirrell’s eclectic shots and angles, which made these fighters a thousand miles apart in terms of ability.
It’s not that Dirrell (28-1-1, 22 KO) deserves criticism for his performance – the man looked fantastic – it’s just that fans watching deserved a better match-up. Much better. After just a couple of rounds, it was hard to not wonder what would be happening if a fighter like James DeGale or George Groves was in the ring. Or any other Top 10 168-pounder capable of un-canning some effective pressure.
In fact, that was the main problem with this fight. Though Dirrell looked highly-tuned and next to flawless, it was hard to come away with the sense that questions had been answered tonight. Perhaps Dirrell-Rubio shouldn’t be examined too much? It was arguably a tune-up, after all. So let’s just leave it like this: Dirrell won, Rubio was tough, but let’s now look forward to better fights. Like, you know, Groves-Jack next weekend.
Dirrell-Rubio Video Fight Highlights, anyone?
Dirrell-Rubio: Round by Round
Round 1: Dirrell aggressive in the opening, accurate, nails Rubio into the ropes. Rubio weathers the storm. Dirrell, 10-9
Round 2: Dirrell lands a couple of tasty one-twos. Looking the sharper, smarter fighter so far. Certainly the quicker of the two. Rubio looking timid. Not pressuring his foe. Rubio gets in some jabs. Dirrell, 10-9 (20-18)
Round 3: Dirrell nails Rubio with a long right-hand. Unloads a barrage. Rubio takes it, doesn’t answer. Left-hook, right combo from Dirrell. Rubio looking workman-like in there. Right-counter from Dirrell. These fighters are miles apart in terms of quality. Dirrell nails his man to the body, head, has all the time in the world. Dirrell, 10-9 (30-27)
Round 4: Dirrell giving Rubio a boxing lesson. Rubio lands a heavy shot, gets Rubio’s attention. Dirrell soon gets back on track. Dirrell, 10-9 (40-36)
Round 5: Dirrell leaping right-hand. Dirrell under absolutely no pressure in this one. All the time in the world for Dirrell. One-two. Head clash, fighters separated. Action resumes. Rubio has no surprises for his opponent. Dirrell, 10-9 (50-45)
Round 6: Rubio still has a lot of fight in him, but this is Dirrell’s night so far. Rubio continues to be cagy, Dirrell meeting the target. Dirrell unloads with vicious combinations to finish the round. Dirrell, 10-9 (60-54)
Round 7: Rubio picks up crowd with combination – but nothing of note landed. Rubio jab gets in. They exchange on the ropes, Rubio goes on the attack. Dirrell boxes his way off. Dirrell outboxes, bangs – everything – for the remainder of round. Dirrell, 10-9 (70-63)
Round 8: Rubio tries to walk down Rubio, but the guy’s just too predictable. Dirrell gets the better of the action once more. Dirrell, Dirrell, Dirrell. Time and again. Combinations. Four unanswered jabs. Dirrell, 10-9 (80-72)
Round 9: It’s hard to keep writing the same thing over and over. Dirrell, 10-9 (90-81)
Round 10: Rubio jab. And another. Dirrell gets off combination. Clean, clean work. They open up in the closing seconds, and guess who the exchange favors? Dirrell, 10-9 (100-90)
Result: 100-90 (thrice), Dirrell (Unanimous Decision)
Boxing Base Scorecard: 100-90, Dirrell
Give us your take on Dirrell-Rubio in the comments, plus supporting act McDonnell-Kameda II.
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