By Pepe Rodriguez

Natural two-fisted power propelled Marco Antonio Rubio to the title picture, but it was a disciplined performance that finally put a major belt around his waist. The longtime middleweight contender finally came up big in a title fight, boxing early before exploding late to score a 10th round knockout over Domenico Spada, Saturday evening in Delicias, Mexico. Rubio improves to 59-6 (51KO) with the win, his sixth straight. Five of his past six wins have come by knockout, none bigger than Saturday’s performance. Spada remains winless on the road, falling to 38-5 (19KO).