Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images
The 24-year-old Lubin looks to get another title shot and fully regain career momentum on Saturday.
About three years ago, Erickson Lubin was an unbeaten, 22-year-old prospect with a lot of hype behind him, stepping into a world title shot against Jermell Charlo.
Lubin was stopped in just two minutes and 41 seconds, a humbling defeat that killed his buzz — but only for a minute. Now 24, Lubin (22-1, 16 KO) is again looked at as a future star in the 154-pound division, and he’s knocking on the door of another title shot.
On Saturday (SHO, 9 pm ET), he gets a WBC eliminator main event against Terrell Gausha (21-1-1, 10 KO), and he feels that he’s truly ready this time around, saying — and thus far proving — that he learned from the loss to Charlo and has become better in the ring.
“The loss was definitely something to learn from. It was also disappointing, because I dared to be great. I learned that experience is a great teacher,” he said. “I took that from the Charlo fight, brought it with me and bounced back. I’m still bouncing back in a great way and I’ll soon take over this division.”
Gausha, 33, is a good next step in every way, eliminator or not. A win over the former Olympian would be probably the best of Lubin’s career to date, and he feels he’s simply going to be too good for his opponent.
“I remember watching Terrell back in his Olympic days. Now we’re in the pro ranks though, so it’s a totally different story,” Lubin said. “He’s a solid fighter, but I feel like I’m on a different level than him. I’m planning on proving that on Saturday night.
And given the layout of the division right now, this isn’t just a WBC eliminator, either. Officially, it is, but with Charlo set to face Jeison Rosario for the WBC, WBA, and IBF titles on Sept. 26, it’s really a chance to get a crack at three of the four major titles.
And while Lubin has long desired a second chance against Charlo, he says he’s “not just chasing” the one man, either.
“I’m chasing those titles,” he stressed. “If he wins, so be it. I want those belts.”
Gausha is confident that his experience with southpaws will be a benefit, but Lubin believes that while Gausha has certainly fought several lefties — four in a row counting Lubin — he also has problems with them.
“I did some studying on Gausha. I looked at the Erislandy Lara fight, the Austin Trout fight, and a few other fights. My trainer looks into that more than I do. I saw what I needed to see. We put together a game plan that we’re ready to execute on Saturday night,” Lubin said.
“I think Gausha has some problems with southpaws, but I’m not focused on that. I’m focused on my game plan and coming out victorious Saturday night.
Lubin also believes it’s important not just to win, but to do so in way that draws eyeballs, rave reviews, and headlines. To get that important buzz fully back in his young career.
“I have to go out there and win, but I also have to win in style. I have to look good winning,” he said.
“I feel like my advantage is that I’m more determined than he is. I’m younger and I believe that I have the edge in almost every department. I know that I’m a couple of steps ahead of him.”
