Javier Molina – Page 2 – Syndication Server

Jose Pedraza builds on momentum with victory over Javier Molina

Jose Pedraza’s strong performance against Mikkel LesPierre in July was no anomaly. If anything, he looked ever better against Javier Molina on Saturday.

The former two-division titleholder continued his resurgence as an elite fighter, defeating Molina by a wide unanimous decision in a 10-round junior welterweight bout inside the MGM Grand “bubble” in Las Vegas.

Pedraza (28-3, 13 KOs) has now won two consecutive fights impressively after a stretch in which he was 1-2, with losses to Vasiliy Lomachenko and Jose Zepeda that raised questions about the 31-year-old Puerto Rican’s future in the sport.

Pedraza outboxed Molina from the start and gradually wore him down, which allowed him to run away with the victory. He hurt Molina late in the final round but couldn’t finish the job.

The final scores were 99-91, 98-92 and 98-92, meaning Molina won one round on one card and two on the second and third.

Pedraza was ranked by any of the major sanctioning bodies but, after two strong performances and in light of his reputation, he’ll probably become a 140-pound contender.

Molina (22-3, 9 KOs) had built some momentum after a 2½-year hiatus from the sport, winning five consecutive fights. That included a unanimous-decision victory over former titleholder Amir Imam in February.

Now the former U.S. Olympian will have to rebuild again.

Jose Pedraza builds on momentum with victory over Javier Molina

Jose Pedraza’s strong performance against Mikkel LesPierre in July was no anomaly. If anything, he looked ever better against Javier Molina on Saturday.

Pedraza outboxed Molina from the start and gradually wore him down, which allowed him to run away with the victory. He hurt Molina late in the final round but couldn’t finish the job.

The final scores were 99-91, 98-92 and 98-92, meaning Molina won one round on one card and two on the second and third.

Pedraza was ranked by any of the major sanctioning bodies but, after two strong performances and in light of his reputation, he’ll probably become a 140-pound contender.

Now the former U.S. Olympian will have to rebuild again.

Jose Pedraza vs. Javier Molina: Do-or-die for both of them?

Jose Pedraza and Javier Molina have both bounced back from difficult times to reestablish themselves as players in the 140-pound division.

Jose Pedraza and Javier Molina have both bounced back recently from difficult times to reestablish themselves as players in the junior welterweight division.

That’s what makes their fight Saturday inside the MGM Grand “bubble” in Las Vegas so important: One will take another step in the rebuilding process; the other might have to start over once again.

Pedraza (27-3, 13 KOs) lost to Vasiliy Lomachenko and Jose Zepeda in 2018 and last year, raising questions about his future as an elite fighter.

However, the Puerto Rican rebounded to dominate Mikael LesPierre en route to a near-shutout decision in July, looking much like the two-division titleholder he had been. Now he’s thinking about the prospect of winning a world title in a third division, although neither he nor Molina is ranked.

“I have my sights set on a world championship at 140,” he said. “My goal is to join the select club of three-division world champions from Puerto Rico. That’s why this fight against Molina is so important.

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“I know that a big win on Saturday will put me a step closer to that opportunity of challenging for a world title in the junior welterweight division. It’s a must-win for me.”

Molina (22-2, 9 KOs) has similar goals, which is remarkable given his disappointing career.

The 2008 U.S. Olympian turned pro with considerable fan fare but never quite lived up to the hype. He left boxing for 2½ years after a unanimous-decision loss to Jamal James in January 2016. Some people – including Molina – wondered whether he was finished.

Instead, the product of the Los Angeles area came back, rededicated himself and has had nothing but success. He has all five of his fights in his comeback, including a unanimous decision over former titleholder Amir Imam in February.

Could Molina finally realize his potential at 30?

“I’m cool with being the underdog,” he said. “There is a reason I’m seen that way, and it’s because I haven’t shown my full potential. Fans haven’t seen all I can do in the ring. Like I said, I’m alright with being the underdog. I’m going to surprise a lot of people on Saturday.

“There were some tough times where I thought about not fighting anymore, but I have so much to give in the sport. That’s why I decided to turn my career around. I have dedicated myself to the sport, and that’s why I’m this position right now.

“By beating Pedraza, I put myself in a good position to challenge for a world title. I know that a victory against a great name like Pedraza will bring me closer to that opportunity to become a champion.”

Pedraza is well aware of Molina’s capabilities.

“I know that I’m very close to a world title opportunity, but my total focus is on the fight I have in front of me,” he said. “I know Molina is a good fighter. I have never overlooked him. I have prepared with that in mind and that’s why I have trained very hard for this fight. …

“He says he’s “El Intocable'”(The Untouchable), but I’m the ‘Sniper’ and I come with great precision to erase the nickname “El Intocable” that Javier Molina has. This will be another chapter in the historic rivalry between Mexico and Puerto Rico. It will be a great fight.

“From my end, I have never overlooked him. He is a great fighter. With that in mind, I have prepared myself for a tough opponent. I know he believes he’s the underdog, but I know he’s a great fighter.”

Meanwhile, Molina couldn’t be more confident, at least publicly.

“We have answers for anything he brings,” he said. “I can adapt to whatever he does the ring. If he wants to brawl, we’re going to brawl, and if I have to box and move around, that’s what I will do to win the fight.

“Pedraza looked good against LesPierre, but I’m not LesPierre. He is flatfooted and I’m not. We have been studying all his recent fights and my game plan is similar to what Lomachenko and Zepeda did against him. If they think I’m going to be outgunned this Saturday, they are in for a big surprise.”

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Jose Pedraza vs. Javier Molina: Do-or-die for both of them?

Jose Pedraza and Javier Molina have both bounced back from difficult times to reestablish themselves as players in the 140-pound division.

Jose Pedraza and Javier Molina have both bounced back recently from difficult times to reestablish themselves as players in the junior welterweight division.

Pedraza (27-3, 13 KOs) lost to Vasiliy Lomachenko and Jose Zepeda in 2018 and last year, raising questions about his future as an elite fighter.

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“I know that a big win on Saturday will put me a step closer to that opportunity of challenging for a world title in the junior welterweight division. It’s a must-win for me.”

Molina (22-2, 9 KOs) has similar goals, which is remarkable given his disappointing career.

Could Molina finally realize his potential at 30?

Pedraza is well aware of Molina’s capabilities.

Meanwhile, Molina couldn’t be more confident, at least publicly.

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Fight Week: Lubin vs. Gausha, Pedraza vs. Molina do-or-die matchups

Junior middleweight contender Erickson Lubin hopes to maintain his hot streak against Terrell Gausha on Saturday.

FIGHT WEEK

A capsulized look at the coming week in boxing.

ERICKSON LUBIN (22-1, 16 KOs)
VS. TERRELL GAUSHA (21-1-1, 10 KOs)

Terrell Gausha (right) is 1-1-1 in his last three fights, including a loss to Erislandy Lara (left). AP Photo / Steve Luciano

When: Saturday, Sept. 19
Where: Uncasville, Conn.
TV: Showtime
Division: Junior middleweight
At stake: No titles
Odds: NA
Also on the card: Tugstsogt Nyambayar vs. Eduardo Ramirez, featherweights; Jaron Ennis vs. Juan Carlos Abreu, welterweights
Prediction: Lubin UD
Background: The talented Lubin stumbled badly when he was stopped by Jermell Charlo in the first round in October 2017. However, he has won four consecutive fights since — including victories over Ishe Smith and Nathaniel Gallimore — to rebuild his status as a welterweight contender. He’s ranked No. 1 by the WBC, whose titleholder is Charlo, and No. 4 by the WBA. Charlo faces Jeison Rosario in a title-unification fought a week after Lubin faces Gausha. Gausha was scheduled to fight Lubin on Oct. 26 but had to pull out because of a hand injury. The hand has healed. The capable 2012 U.S. Olympian is hoping to stay in the championship mix. He’s 1-1-1 in his last three fights, a unanimous, but competitive decision loss to Erislandy Lara, a first-round KO of Joey Hernandez and a split draw with Austin Trout in May of last year. He will have been out of the ring for 16 months.

JOSE PEDRAZA (27-3, 13 KOs)
VS. JAVIER MOLINA (22-2, 9 KOs)

Jose Pedraza celebrated after his one-sided victory over Mikkel LesPierre on July 2. Mikey Williams / Top Rank

When: Saturday, Sept. 19
Where: MGM Grand, Las Vegas
TV: ESPN+
Division: Junior welterweight
At stake: No titles
Odds: NA
Also on the card: Efe Ajagba vs. Jonnie Rice, heavyweights
Prediction: Molina UD
Background: Both fighters recently reestablished their credentials as potential contenders. Pedraza bounced back from decision losses to Vasiliy Lomachenko and Jose Zepeda in 2018 and last year by dominating capable Mikkel LesPierre en route to winning a near-shutout decision in July. The Puerto Rican looked like the two-division titleholder of old. Molina, a 2008 U.S. Olympian, returned in 2018 from a 2½-year hiatus after a loss to Jamal James and has won five in a row, including an impressive unanimous-decision upset of former title older Amir Imam on Feb. 22 which resurrected hopes that he might realize his potential after turning 30. The winner could step into the sanctioning-body rankings. The loser could be in trouble.

Fight Week: Lubin vs. Gausha, Pedraza vs. Molina do-or-die matchups

Junior middleweight contender Erickson Lubin hopes to maintain his hot streak against Terrell Gausha on Saturday.

FIGHT WEEK

A capsulized look at the coming week in boxing.

ERICKSON LUBIN (22-1, 16 KOs)
VS. TERRELL GAUSHA (21-1-1, 10 KOs)

JOSE PEDRAZA (27-3, 13 KOs)
VS. JAVIER MOLINA (22-2, 9 KOs)

Jose Pedraza vs. Javier Molina set for Sept. 19 at MGM Grand

Jose Pedraza will face Javier Molina in a battle of 140-pound hopefuls on Sept. 19 in Las Vegas.

Jose Pedraza gave one of the strongest performances yet in the MGM Grand “bubble” during the coronavirus pandemic. Now he’s coming back for more.

The former two-division titleholder will face 2008 U.S. Olympian Javier Molina in a 10-round junior welterweight fight on Sept. 19 at Las Vegas hotel. The card will be streamed live on ESPN+.

Pedraza (27-3, 13 KOs) lost unanimous decisions to Vasiliy Lomachenko and Jose Zepeda in 2018 and last year, raising questions about his future as an elite fighter.

Then, on July 2, the 31-year-old Puerto Rican turned what was supposed to be a competitive fight against Mikkel LesPierre into his own showcase. Pedraza, looking to be in peak form, put LesPierre down twice and generally outclassed him to win by a near-shutout decision.

Just like that, Pedraza was back in the 140-pound conversation. The next step: beat Molina, who he was supposed to have fought on May 9 before COVID-19 stepped in.

Javier Molina’s victory over Amir Imam (left) in February was an important step in his career. Mikey Williams / Top Rank

“I’ve been looking for a fight against Javier Molina for a long time,” Pedraza said. “I also had him on my radar because we were supposed to fight earlier this year, but the whole situation with the pandemic changed those plans and the fight was postponed. I kept training hard to keep improving and I ended up fighting against another opponent and had a great performance.

“This fight will bring me even closer to a world title opportunity. My goal is to become a three-division world champion, and Javier Molina will not stop me from achieving my dream.”

Molina (22-2, 9 KOs) also pumped life back into his career recently.

The Los Angeles-area fighter was once a hot prospect but never seemed to take off. He suffered his first loss to Artemio Reyes by decision in 2011, rebounded with a winning streak but then lost a wide decision when he stepped up in class to face Jamal James in 2016.

Molina fought once in the next three-plus years, which left him off everyone’s radar. He seemed to be finished.

Then, determined not to squander his potential, he signed a contract with Top Rank early in 2019 and has won four consecutive fights, including a break-through decision over Amir Iman on the Tyson Fury-Deontay card in February.

Molina, 30, was back.

“Going into this year, I had big expectations for myself,” Molina said. “I know what I’m capable of, and I’m here to make a statement against Pedraza. I haven’t received the respect or recognition I feel I deserve but getting a win over Pedraza will put my name out there.

“It’s a huge opportunity, and I plan on taking advantage of it.”

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Jose Pedraza vs. Javier Molina set for Sept. 19 at MGM Grand

Jose Pedraza will face Javier Molina in a battle of 140-pound hopefuls on Sept. 19 in Las Vegas.

Jose Pedraza gave one of the strongest performances yet in the MGM Grand “bubble” during the coronavirus pandemic. Now he’s coming back for more.

The former two-division titleholder will face 2008 U.S. Olympian Javier Molina in a 10-round junior welterweight fight on Sept. 19 at Las Vegas hotel. The card will be streamed live on ESPN+.

Pedraza (27-3, 13 KOs) lost unanimous decisions to Vasiliy Lomachenko and Jose Zepeda in 2018 and last year, raising questions about his future as an elite fighter.

Just like that, Pedraza was back in the 140-pound conversation. The next step: beat Molina, who he was supposed to have fought on May 9 before COVID-19 stepped in.

“This fight will bring me even closer to a world title opportunity. My goal is to become a three-division world champion, and Javier Molina will not stop me from achieving my dream.”

Molina (22-2, 9 KOs) also pumped life back into his career recently.

Molina fought once in the next three-plus years, which left him off everyone’s radar. He seemed to be finished.

Molina, 30, was back.

“It’s a huge opportunity, and I plan on taking advantage of it.”

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Emanuel Navarrete dominates, stops Jeo Santisima in 11

Emanuel Navarrete may not be long at junior featherweight, but he defended his title with an 11th-round TKO of Jeo Santisima.

In his fifth fight in nearly nine months, junior featherweight titleholder Emanuel Navarrete appeared sluggish at times against Jeo Santisima on the Deontay Wilder-Tyson Fury II card at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. But the 25-year-old Mexican outworked the Filipino challenger and eventually stopped him in the 11th round of with a barrage of unanswered combinations.

Navarrete, one of the more active titleholders in the sport, started out slow and seemed to grow fatigued in the middle rounds, but he laid down a considerable beating of Santisima. Navarrete had Santisima hurt in Round 5, but took the next round off. There also appeared to be an issue with Navarette’s right hand, which he explained afterward was the result of a slight injury.

“I hurt him weirdly with my right hand and hurt my thumb but I had to plough through it,” Navarrete (31-1, 27 KOs) said.

Navarrete turned it up in Round 10, tagging Santisima (19-3, 16 KOs) with strafing punches from pillar to post. Referee Russell Mora stopped the bout at 2:27 of Round 11.

There have been whispers that Navarrete may look to move up to the featherweight division for his next fight.

Also on the undercard, junior middleweight Sebastian Fundora may be a physical freak of nature, but he is still clearly very much a a work progress. The six-foot-six prospect was tested by Aussie Daniel Lewis in a scheduled 10-rounder en route to a unanimous decision win.

Scores were 97-93, 98-92, and 99-91.

Lewis was outmatched from the start, but he succeeded in making the fight a phonebooth affair, thus partially negating Fundora’s remarkable height. Lewis landed overhand rights and left hooks that had Fundora bleeding from the nose in Round 2.

“I don’t want to make excuses, but I had the flu,” Fundora (14-0-1, 9 KOs) said afterward. “That’s why my nose bled.”

Still, it was Fundora who controlled the action and landed the harder shots. He consistently landed the right uppercut as Lewis (6-1, 4 KOs) tried to bulldoze his way inside. By the mid rounds, a purple mouse was visible under his right eye.

In a mild upset, Javier Molina (22-2, 9 KOs) outpointed Amir Imam (21-3, 18 KOs) over eight rounds in a junior welterweight bout.

Scores were 79-73, 78-74, and 78-74.

It was a closely contest bout, but Molina, who fought primarily off the backfoot, was a bit craftier. Imam showed little creativity on offense as he simply walked towards Molina trying to land his right hand.

For nearly seven rounds, welterweight Subriel Matias had his way with Petros Ananyan, landing one thudding power shots after another. A stoppage seemed imminent. But in the waning moments of Round 7, Ananyan, bruised and bloodied, connected on four consecutive overhand rights and then a left hook that sent Matias reeling into the ropes. Referee Robert Byrd issued a standing eight count, and just like that, the scheduled 10-rounder instantly turned. Matias never truly recovered, as Ananyan, the decided underdog, pushed the pace en route to a unanimous decision upset.

Judges scored it 96-93, 95-94, and 95-94, all for Ananyan (15-2-2, 7 KOs).

This was just the third bout for Matias (15-1, 15 KOs) since his tragic bout against the late Maxim Dadashev, who passed from ring injuries sustained during that fight.

Gary Russell Jr.: Disappointed Olympian, successful professional

Gary Russell Jr.’s Olympic dream died when he missed his weigh-in but he can take pride in his professional accomplishments.

Gary Russell Jr. made the wrong kind of news as a member of the 2008 U.S. Olympic team.

Russell never threw a punch at the Beijing Games because he missed his weigh-in – and was subsequently disqualified – after collapsing in his room as a result of his efforts to make the 119-pound weight limit.

Of course, he was devastated. His dream died. However, 11-plus years later, he can take some solace. He arguably is the second-most successful professional from the 2008 U.S. team.

Here is a ranking of that team according to professional accomplishments.

Deontay Wilder admires his work in a dramatic Round 7 in his knockout victory over Luis Ortiz in November. AP Photo / John Locher

NO. 1 DEONTAY WILDER
Olympics results: Bronze medal
Pro record: 42-0-1 (41 KOs)
Titles won: Heavyweight (2015-current)
Notable victims: Bermane Stiverne (twice), Chris Arreola, Luis Ortiz (twice)
Summary: Wilder is clearly the class of the 2008 U.S. team. He has become known for arguably the hardest punch – his big right hand – in the history of the sport. And he has endured. He has made 10 successful title defenses, which equals Muhammad Ali for fifth most in a single heavyweight reign.

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