The super welterweight contender looks better than ever as he moves closer to another world title shot with an emphatic performance Saturday night on SHOWTIME.
Erickson Lubin was filled with confidence. And what better way to exert that than by applying a verbal shot—before being sure he would make Nathaniel Gallimore pay again for his arrogance.
“Come on!” Lubin yelled at Gallimore as the final seconds ticked away in the sixth round of Saturday night’s 154-pound main event on the Showtime Boxing: Special Edition show from the Santander Arena in Reading, Pa.
Then, Lubin thumped Gallimore with a straight left through his high guard that landed on his face.
“The Hammer” let his hands do the talking the rest of the fight, claiming his third victory of 2019, and going 10 rounds for the first time in three years in securing a unanimous decision over Gallimore by the identical 99-91 scores of judges Lynne Carter, Adam Friscia and Kevin Morgan.
The victory also marked the fourth-straight win for Lubin (22-1, 16 KOs) since a devastating first-round knockout loss to Jermell Charlo in October 2017.
“I felt confident, I felt like he was getting tired and breaking down a little bit, so wanted to discourage him and take him out of his game,” Lubin said about the sixth-round punch that arrived after his verbal jab.
“I wanted to be the bully. Usually, (Gallimore) is the bully. I wanted to take him off his game plan and I think I did.”
Lubin landed 137/471 (29%) total punches, 46/256 jabs (18%) and 91/215 power shots (42%). Lubin almost doubled Gallimore’s 66/419 (16%) punch total.
“I had a tremendous training camp thanks to Kevin Cunningham,” Lubin said. “At first, we had Terrell Gausha but he fell out due to an injury. I appreciate Gallimore for stepping up to the plate. He gave me a tough fight and I appreciate it. We gave the fans what they wanted. I measured him. I just timed him and I was able to land my power shows.
“Kevin is a real strict trainer and he’s a southpaw specialist. We just improving our game very camp. I definitely want Jermell Charlo again. My goal is to get revenge. I thought I boxed really well. We stuck to the game plan.
At times, Gallimore didn’t know what to do with Lubin. One moment he was there, then was somewhere else in the ring.
“Lubin was slick and I just couldn't get my punches off,” Gallimore admitted. “He was the better man tonight but I will be back and better. I was never hurt during the fight. We bumped legs a couple times and he was able to land a couple shots while I was off balance. It's always difficult to fight a southpaw.”
"I could have done more but I kept fighting to the end just like I always will. It just wasn't my night.”
With around 2:10 left in the third, Gallimore nailed Lubin with a powerful right. The shot appeared to encourage Gallimore’s corner and it motivated the Chicago fighter to become braver.
Gallimore was rocked by a Lubin right hook with 2:32 left in the fourth. Gallimore was getting caught from seemingly everything Lubin was throwing—and walking right into Lubin’s straight left.
The fourth was Lubin’s best, to that point of the fight. Gallimore, however, had to get a few taunts in as the bell ended the round.
In the fifth, Lubin showed great footwork, puzzling Gallimore by dancing around him. Lubin entered the sixth for the first time since July 2016.
With just over 2:00 left in the sixth, Lubin dropped a left to Gallimore’s body. Lubin was controlling the fight with his jab, but he also worked well up and down, landing equally to the body as he did to the head. In the last :10, Lubin smashed Gallimore (21-4-1, 17 KOs), then punctuated the round with the emphatic “Come on!” before landing a straight left at the end of the round.
#EasterGranados exchanging at a furious rate in Round 7. pic.twitter.com/nlp3GRxrlY
— SHOWTIME Boxing (@ShowtimeBoxing) October 27, 2019
Robert Easter Jr. starts at 140 with a successful debut
It was a war from the opening bell. However, former world lightweight champion Robert Easter Jr. controlled the action for the most part, winning a 10-round unanimous decision over Adrian Granados in his super lightweight debut.
Early in the first, it appeared Easter (22-1-1, 14 KOs) would cruise. Granados, for his part, worked in burrowing forward. The ploy was met with some punishing jabs and trying to establish distance. But in the last minute of the first, Easter reverted back to his old habits, allowing the shorter fighter to get inside.
With 2:00 left in the second, Granados (20-8-2, 13 KOs) was able to get inside and nail Easter with a right uppercut. It seemed to work—and the inside fighting fed right into the game plan of Granados.
With :50 left in the third, the two stood toe-to-toe in the center of the ring and literally whaled on each other. Easter appeared to get the better of the exchange, landing the heavier, head-snapping shots.
Granados stalked Easter again in the last minute of the fourth round. He landed several shots to the face and tagged Easter with a right to the body as the round ended.
After four, it was easy to see the fight as even.
Maybe it’s why Easter opened the fifth using his jab, keeping Granados at a distance. He applied a double left hook to the body, and Granados began swelling over his left eye. Granados also started going backward for the first time in the fight.
A hematoma began building above Granados’ left eye after the sixth. It wasn’t a great cause of concern as the seventh began, but Easter applied more punishment. It didn’t stop Granados, who again got inside and popped Easter with accurate shots.
In the eighth, Easter had blood leaking from his left ear. Granados got inside once more, landing right uppercuts and shots to Easter’s body. Easter seemed in control, though Granados was making a strong argument to win the round.
Granados’ corner felt Easter was tiring entering the ninth. In the last minute of the ninth, the two again stood in the center of the ring and slugged each other.
Granados, however, could not hurt Easter.
Easter’s father and trainer, Robert Easter Sr., implored his son going into the 10th to box and get away. So much for Easter listening to his father. He used his jab from range early, then eventually allowed Granados inside, before paying a price with a Granados right uppercut and a right to the body.
Easter was awarded on the scorecards of judges Julie Lederman (98-92), Kevin Morgan (97-93) and somehow John Poturaj saw it a shutout for Easter (100-90).
“We knew he was going to be a hell of a warrior in there,” Easter said. “That’s what we train for. This was no ordinary opponent and we knew he was going to bring it. I wasn’t surprised because that’s what he does. You’ve seen him fight with the best of the best and he threw down. I knew he was going to throw punches in bunches.
“I felt strong at 140-pounds. I held my own. It was something new for me and I felt comfortable. Granados came and brought it and I knew he would make me fight.”
“This was a hell of a test for me at 140 and I felt strong. I’m not calling out no body specifically, but you know there are champions in this weight class and I’m coming for all the bouts. Line ‘em up.”
Granados, who landed a total of 391/994 (39%) punches, 68/204 (33%) jabs and 323/790 (41%) power punches, exceeded what Easter did with 239/821 (29%) total shots, 31/232 (13%) jabs and 208/589 (35%) power shots.
“I’m speechless,” a despondent Granados said. “I felt like I won the fight. That 100 to 90? Come on now. I’m tired of the same old story. It was clear that I controlled the fight. He never had me hurt. That was embarrassing.”
Sanchez applying pressure in round 1! #SanchezMulowayi #PBConSHOWTIME pic.twitter.com/R4hDUNGpzk
— PBC (@premierboxing) October 27, 2019
Cuban heavyweight Frank Sanchez remains undefeated
Cuban expatriate Frank Sanchez (14-0, 11 KOs) certainly looks the part. The heavyweight from Guantanamo, Cuba, is 6-foot-4, weighs a svelte 223 pounds, has a distinguished amateur past and has stopped his last four opponents.
Jack Mulowayi (7-2-1, 3 KOs) was in against Sanchez in the 10-rounder to find out what exactly Sanchez, “The Cuban Flash,” could do.
Referee Shawn Clark got as much work as the fighters.
Sanchez did get something out of it—rounds. He had never gone 10 rounds before meeting Mulowayi.
As the rounds went on, Sanchez’s jab became more consistent, as was his punch output.
The scores were easy: 100-90 shutout across the board for Sanchez, who threw as many punches in the sixth round (28) as Mulowayi landed in the fight (30).
“My opponent didn't really want to fight, he just wanted to fight dirty,” Sanchez said. “So, all I could do was give him some lateral movement. It's difficult when someone doesn't want to engage. I showed my technical superiority tonight. All the heavyweights better watch out.”
For a closer look at Lubin vs Gallimore, check out our fight night page.
