By Edward Chaykovsky

WBA/IBO middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin (31-0, 28KOs) knew the end was near when he stopped Marco Antonio Rubio in the second round Saturday night, at the StubHub Center in Carson, California. Golovkin landed a left hand to the forehead and Rubio dropped down to the canvas and couldn't get up in time, with the referee waving things off and the Mexican boxer's record dropping down to 59-7-1.

"I felt I hurt him with the left hand, and the uppercut was when he was very badly hurt," Golovkin said. "I knew I had him. I was happy he came forward. He fought Mexican style, and he tried to hurt me, but my power was too much for him tonight."