Lubin vs Rosario predictions and preview: Who wins what might be the weekend’s best fight?

Scott Christ (38-11-2)

I’ve said before that I really like the way Lubin has bounced back from that 2017 loss to Jermell Charlo. He was flat-out not ready for that fight, and while probably nine times out of 10 he doesn’t get wiped out in the first round, he did in the one time out of one that happened. That could have wrecked a young fighter’s confidence, but Lubin buckled down and got better.

How much better? I don’t know, the opposition since then was rightly stepped back and just starting to tick back in the right direction, and Rosario is a more dangerous opponent than anyone Lubin’s faced since Charlo. Part of that is Rosario can punch; he won’t be as awkward as Terrell Gausha was at times, but he brings a lot more thunder. Rosario may well have had his One Big Moment against Julian Williams, but I love this as a matchup because it figures to be a firefight at some point.

Lubin may try to box, but he’s not so slick or skilled that he can keep Rosario from throwing fire at him. I’m crystal balling this one, and I see Lubin having a solid but not overwhelming lead before he gets caught with something big and doesn’t recover. But I think this is about as 50/50 as we really get at this level, and can imagine either one of them having a really impressive performance — Rosario if he overpowers Lubin, and Lubin if he just out-boxes Rosario, which could also lead to a big finish. Rosario TKO-9

How to Watch Davis vs Barrios

Date: Saturday, June 26 | Start Time: Start Time: 9:00 pm ET
Location: State Farm Arena - Atlanta, GA
Streaming: Showtime PPV | TV: Showtime PPV
Online Coverage: BadLeftHook.com

Wil Esco (40-9-2)

This fight just might be the biggest toss-up of the weekend as it’s truly a fight that could go either way. Lubin certainly has the technical advantage here, but Rosario has the power advantage. When I break down their styles I think it’s a fight that Lubin should be able to outscore Rosario but Lubin has shown vulnerabilities in taking a good shot and that could well mean that Rosario turns things around or even ends things at any moment.

Lubin has had some scares he’s survived recently and he’s going to have to walk another tightrope here in order to secure the win. If Rosario can land he can certainly do damage, but I’ve never been all that impressed by Rosario’s style and think he might’ve peaked when he won the title and just might not have that same desire anymore. I’m not predicting this one with any real confidence, but I’m going to take Lubin to edge out a decision the hard way. Lubin MD-12

Patrick L. Stumberg (39-10-2)

Underwhelming against a sound technician like Terrell Gausha isn’t exactly damning for Lubin, but getting rocked the way he did is a bad look for someone still trying to get over his one-round mauling from Jermell Charlo. He’s got a lot to prove here against a legitimately dangerous puncher in Rosario, who if nothing else will press forward and try to take his head off from bell to bell.

While I’m far from convinced he’s title material, at least against the likes of Jermell and Brian Castano, I do think Lubin’s got the skills to win this. If it turns into a boxing match, his speed and crispness win the day, especially with a 4.5-inch reach advantage on his side. If it turns into a slugfest, I have less faith in Rosario’s chin than I do Lubin’s. “The Hammer” makes his case for a Charlo rematch with a mid-round stoppage, working behind a steady jab until Rosario leaves himself open enough for a finisher. Lubin TKO-7

And the staff winner is...

Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images

Erickson Lubin (2-1)!