By Joaquin Trejo 

Mexico's Marco Antonio Rubio (52-5-1, 45KOs) will go in the ring with the firm intention of closing out the year with a huge knockout on December 17th at the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. The fight is part of annual convention of the World Boxing Council (WBC). Rubio, who won a middleweight title eliminator for the WBC by knocking out Canadian David Lemieux in April, will face vetran Matt Vanda (44-13, 24KOs). The event will be televised by Televisa Deportes.

Rubio, who is gunning for a shot at WBC world middleweight champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., wants to impress everyone in attendance with a blazing knockout.

"It's going to be a great event. And because its the WBC's convention, I want to shine like I've never shined before. I know a lot of people will be there, including the sanctioning body president Jose Sulaiman - and I want to leave everyone with a great feeling with my performance against Matt Vanda," Rubio said.