Weights From California.: Golovkin 159 Lb, Rubio 161.8 Lb

By Jake Donovan

Gennady Golovkin and Marco Antonio Rubio square off in a 12-round middleweight clash at the sold-out StubHub Center in Carson, California.

Rubio was first to the scales, but will have to make another visit. The longtime veteran stripped down to his birthday suit, but still weighed in at 161.8 lb., nearly two pounds over the 160 lb. middleweight limit. He has two hours to get within the divisional limit, otherwise will be subject to a fine along with additional forfeiture of his purse to allow the fight to go through.

Golovkin had no trouble whatsoever making weight, coming in at a trim and ready 159 lb.

Fans turned out in droves for the West Coast debut of Golovkin (30-0, 27KOs), who ascension to stardom has been as explosive as his in-ring results. The Kazakhstani has scored 17 straight knockouts heading into Saturday, including a 100% knockout to win ratio over the course of a middleweight title reign more than four years deep.

Rubio (59-6-1, 51KOs) makes his third attempt at a middleweight bout. His past two tries ended in losses, coming up well short versus then-lineal middleweight king Kelly Pavlik in 2009, and most recently in a 12-round points loss to Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. in Feb. '12. 

The hard-hitting brawler from Mexico enters Saturday's contest having won his past six starts. His most recent win came in April, scoring a highlight reel 10th round knockout of Domenico Spada. 

In the co-feature—a bout many view as the evening's true main event given its pick-'em nature—Nonito Donaire faces unbeaten Nicholas Walters in a featherweight title fight. 

Both fighters weighed in at 125.6 lb., well within the 126 lb. featherweight limit.

Donaire (33-2, 21KOs) officially became a four-division titlist earlier this year after scoring a five-round technical decision win over Simpiwe Vetyeka in Macau. The featherweight title win adds to his collection of belts obtained at flyweight, bantamweight and super bantamweight, along with nabbing Fighter of the Year honors in 2012 after scoring four straight wins, including recognition as the lineal super bantamweight king.

Things haven't been as smooth since then. Donaire dropped a 12-round decision and his 122 lb. crown to Guillermo Rigondeaux last April, then struggled to a 9th round come-from-behind knockout win over Vic Darchinyan last November before resurfacing with the win over Vetyeka.

Walters (24-0, 20KOs) has been granted an up close and personal view of Donaire for each of his last two bouts. The Jamaican knockout artist signed with Top Rank last year, making his debut under its banner with a 4th round knockout of Alberto Garza last November, mere hours before watching Donaire struggle versus Darchinyan.

In a wise career move, Walters next faced Darchinyan, on the same Macau show that saw Donaire add his name to the featherweight title mix. The fight served as the 28-year old's breakout performance, destroying the former flyweight and super bantamweight king in five one-sided rounds.

Both bouts will air live on HBO (Saturday, 10:00 p.m. ET/7:00 p.m. PT).

FULL WEIGHTS

Edwin Rodriguez, 174.8 lb. vs. Azea Augustama, 175.8 lb. - 10 rounds, light heavyweight (+/- 2 lb.)

Marcos Reyes, 160.8 lb. vs, Abraham Han, 160.4 lb. - 10 rounds, middleweight (+/- 2 lb.)

Jaime Ocegueda vs. Moris Rodriguez - 6 rounds, super lightweight (+/- 2 lb.)

Walter Sarnoi, 123.4 lb. vs. Sergio Najera, 125.2 lb. - 6 rounds, featherweight (+/- 2 lb.)

Ruslan Madiev, 136.6 lb. vs. Oscar Rojas, 135 lb. - 4 rounds, lightweight (+/- 2 lb.)

Jake Donovan is the Managing Editor of BoxingScene.com, as well as the Records Keeper for the 

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