The veteran 154-pounder finds himself on the opposite end of a familiar scenario when he faces unbeaten, rising star Jesus Ramos Saturday night in the Canelo-Charlo Pay-Per-View Co-Main Event.
Fight of the Year: Erickson Lubin vs Sebastian Fundora | Best of PBC 2022
Erickson “The Hammer” Lubin is on the cusp of another junior middleweight world title fight. First, he must get past rising, undefeated 22-year-old Jesus “Mono” Ramos, a bout which serves as the co-feature to Saturday night’s Canelo Alvarez-Jermell Charlo’s undisputed super middleweight title showdown from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, live on Pay-Per-View (8:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. PT).
Ramos (20-0, 16 KOs) has all the momentum heading into this fight. He’s been touted by many as the next great Mexican-American fighter. Orlando native Lubin was in a similar position when he was 22. On September 30, he hopes to give Ramos Jr. a boxing lesson.
“I don’t think he’s been in the ring with somebody like myself yet,” Lubin said of the young upstart. “The same way they are on him, they were big on me like that. I’m just looking at it like this is how the game goes.”
Five years ago, the now 27-year-old Lubin was 18-0 and looked unbeatable as he tore through opposition on his way toward a world title shot against a 27-year world champion named Jermell Charlo. With 30 seconds remaining in the first round of his first championship fight, Lubin was knocked out by a crisp, Charlo right uppercut.
In an instant, Lubin’s stock dropped. It was an emotional haymaker.
“It was definitely a part of maturing,” Lubin said. “I had to actually get comfortable with being a professional and that’s what I did. I left some old habits by the way, put them to the side and I got better. I got hungrier.”
Lubin’s newfound hunger led to six wins in a row over seasoned, savvy vets like Ishe Smith, Terrell Gausha and Jeison Rosario. But what he craved was opportunity.
“Everybody started to backpedal a little bit,” Lubin recalled. “But then I got on a six-fight win streak and they started coming back.”
“ I just can’t let nobody make a name off of me. ” Junior Middleweight Contender - Erickson Lubin
In 2022, Lubin finally returned to the bright lights. Matched against a young, hungry, undefeated Sebastian Fundora for the interim WBC junior middleweight title, Lubin was yet again put on the canvas early by a right hand. The fight was far from over this time though.
Lubin rose from the canvas and waged war. He threw thudding shots from all angles and floored Fundora for the first time in his career in round seven. It was the 6-foot-5 giant’s toughest fight of his career to that point. Lubin and Fundora put on a violent barnburner much to the dismay of Lubin’s corner.
“It was definitely a great fight but there was more that I could do,” Lubin said. “I didn’t follow the game plan after he floored me in the second round and after that I felt like ‘no I got to kill him.’”
Lubin regrets ignoring his corner’s advice and slugging it out. He was eventually stopped in his corner in Round 9, but the fight earned PBC’s 2022 Fight of the Year honors. His eyes were swollen, lips bloodied and face busted, but Lubin wore the mark of a warrior and the fans demanded to see more.
Now with hopes of stealing the night yet again, Lubin rejects the idea of a moral victory. He looks to exploit the fellow southpaw’s weakness and ruin Ramos’ sterling record. That’s just how the game goes. The road back to the top after a loss is hard and Lubin has no intention of making the climb again.
“I’m ready man,” Lubin said. “My last pay-per-view was against Rosario. I came out with the sixth round stoppage and I’m looking to top that. I got a young kid in front of me who’s a live dog. He’s ready to fight and make a name for himself. I just can’t let nobody make a name off of me.”
For a closer look at Erickson Lubin, check out his fighter page.
