With the victory, the Pakistani born fighter from Bolton, England picks up the vacant WBC Silver junior welterweight title while simultaneously getting back in the win column after his devastating loss to Danny Garcia, who ringside, would take in the night’s action telecast on Showtime Championship Boxing from the Los Angeles Sports Arena.
From the very first round, Khan in throwing blistering combinations from a distance would bloody the face of his formerly undefeated opponent, bewildering Molina who instead of pressing forward as would most shorter reach disadvantaged fighters, remained for the most part on the end of Amir’s punches, a position which would leave him quite vulnerable as well as ineffective.
“Carlos took some good shots and still kept coming forward and that’s when I knew I had to stick to my game plan,” stated Khan post fight. “Virgil’s a great trainer and I’m getting better as a fighter. He’s teaching me boxing speed, patience, and when to pick my punches and when to throw them. Some times I’m too brave for my own good. In the Danny Garcia fight he caught me with a good shot, but I would fight Danny Garcia again anytime anywhere.”
“I don’t know what happened,” said Molina. I wanted to pull the trigger but for some reason I couldn’t get my hands to go. I had a lack of precision. He was fast with his jab and I was hesitant trying to get in because he has a long reach. I didn’t do my job and I lost my undefeated record. I felt like I connected two or three times but wasn’t at the right distance to reconnect after I wobbled him. I’ll go back, work hard, and get back in the ring.”
Good win for Khan in what amounted to a set up fight as Molina in stepping up to the elite level for the first time just didn’t have the confidence or skill set to make a competitive showing. What’s next for Khan is not known, nor is it certain how he will fare against other A level fighters now that he’s undergoing a reformation of sorts under 2011 “Trainer of the Year” Virgil Hunter. Time will tell.
Deontay Wilder administers emphatic kayo
Improving to 26-0 with as many knockouts, 2008 Bronze Medalist Deontay “The Bronze Bomber” Wilder would after two uneventful rounds casually walk across the ring to paw with a jab on the heels of which would be delivered a smashing right hand that would deposit formerly undefeated Pensacola, Florida fighter Kelvin Price (13-1, 6 KO’s) on the canvass once and for all.
Fighting mainly overmatched undersized opponents, Wilder initially looked to have a bit of a challenge on his hands against an equally sized adversary, that is until “The Bronze Bomber” took matters into his own hands. Good win for talented Wilder who under the tutelage of former world champion Mark Breland is perhaps nearing a major step up against a top-ten fighter.
Angulo in a battle decisions iron chinned Silva
In a bout that should garner each combatant the chin of the year award, Alfredo “El Perro” Angulo (22-2, 18 KO’s) of Los Angeles, California by way of Mexicali, Mexico in dishing it out proved he could take it as well, the problem for the rugged Chula Vista opponent Jorge Silva (18-3-2, 14 KO’s) being that he was on the receiving end more than his counterpart.
As a result, Angulo in his second bout upon being released from an immigration detention center would once again emerge victorious, this time registering a unanimous decision verdict by scores of 97-93 all the way around after 10 rounds of leather flying every which way.
All in all this was a bout that would keep fight fans in a frenzy due to each man amazingly being able to mutually absorb shots that would have knocked 9 of every 10 fighters out. Apparently these two were tenth on that list.
Pearson stops Abreu in five
Trotwood, Ohio resident and undefeated prospect Chris Pearson would remain so, improving to 7-0 with 6 knockouts after decisively stopping Las Vegas opponent Yusmani Abreu (3-6-1) who on the advice of the doctor would be prohibited from continuing on after five complete rounds.
Subsequent to a couple of feel out rounds, Pearson against an opponent not well versed in facing a southpaw would begin by the third frame to find success behind a stiff jab. Following up on that lead punch, the Al Haymon managed fighter with a straight left hand to both body and head would begin to bust up his opponent, bloodying Abreu’s nose as well as marking his face, the very reason for the summoning of the ringside physician.
Showtime Extreme bout
Diaz versus Porter concluded a draw
Former two-time lightweight champion Julio “The Kidd” Diaz (40-7-1, 29 KO’s) of Indio, California would have some excellent moments, landing flush on NABO champion and Cleveland, Ohio native Shawn “Showtime” Porter (20-0-1, 14 KO’s) a number of times in this 10-round non title affair.
Porter would however not only in land in like fashion, but in my opinion and that of CompuBox, he simply threw and connected more than his opponent so that he looked to edge the Mexican fighter. But in the end the victory would elude “Showtime” as the bout would be ruled a draw, the final scores reading 96-94 for each, with a third 95-95 tally evening things out.
In the early going Shawn up on his toes easily out-boxed his counterpart, dropping combinations while his younger legs would carry him out of harms way. Diaz would in rounds 3 and 4 turn the tables on his opponent, timing Porter while keeping him in place with an excellent body attack.
But from that point forward the Cleveland based fighter was more often than not uninhibited from picking and choosing his spots, outworking and outlanding Diaz due mainly to the fact that Julio failed to work behind a jab. For if “The Kidd” had utilized a jab on the way in, I don’t believe Porter would have had the success he did.
Undercard bouts
Cochran decisions Lopez
In a hard fought junior lightweight scrap, undefeated Jerren Cochran (7-0, 3 KO’s) of Houston, Texas, although for good portions of the bout on the fly, would as the more accurate fighter outland the aggressive and far less precise Chris Lopez (5-1, 2 KO’s) of Phoenix, Arizona, handing the Puerto Rican born fighter his first loss by scores of 40-36 twice, and 39-37 after four rounds.
Centeno Stops Conyers
In a 154-pound contest, middle of the road fighter Allen Conyers (12-8, 9 KO’s) of the Bronx, New York would get dropped by Oxnard, California’s undefeated Hugo Centeno (17-0, 9 KO’s) in the very first round, of which an unsteady Conyers would make it back to his stool.
Able to hang in for several more rounds, the native New Yorker would attempt to make a go of it, only to be outworked by Centeno who landed hard and often so that the Conyers corner at the end of round 7 would call it a day.
Gomez makes short work of Miranda
Frankie “The Pitbull” Gomez (14-0, 11 KO’s) of East Los Angeles with a vocal throng of supporters on hand made quick work of opponent Pavel Miranda (19-9-1, 10 KO’s) of Tijuana, Mexico, stiffening the legs of his opponent with a left hook, right hook combo that would fell Miranda like a tree just 48 seconds into the first round. Gomez in the process keeps his unblemished record intact.
