How Carlos King Molina Could Get a Fight With Floyd Mayweather Jr.
By Robert Brizel, Head RCM Boxing Correspondent
The next big megafight for Floyd Mayweather Jr. is on the horizon for May 2014.
The big fight on the horizon has emerged from the Mayweather-Alvarez battle on the undercard. Carlos ‘King’ Molina beat Ishe Smith for the International Boxing Federation World Light Middleweight title by 12 round split decision. Now it could be Floyd Mayweather Jr. versus Carlos Molina for the unified WBC-WBA-IBF and Ring Magazine titles at 154 pounds.
“That’s the fight I want next.” Newly crowned IBF champ Carlos Molina calls out Floyd Mayweather Jr. at the post fight press conference after beating Ishe Smith.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mOdjNVuJ2oE clip courtesy Fighthype.com
Since Floyd and Molina are now both entrenched at 154 pounds, and Molina has called Floyd out, the bout should take place. Molina has proved unable to win six times against opponents with a combined record of 116-1, though he was never hurt or stopped. Critics might argue Molina got robbed in draws with Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. and Erislandy Lara. Worse, Molina got disqualified when his corner entered the ring too soon in his bout with the now invisible James Kirkland, certainly not Molina’s fault.
Molina has been able to outbox Ed Paredes, Kermit Cintron and Cory Spinks. However, Molina has only six knockouts in his 22-5-2 record. Therefore, the only Molina is going to beat Floyd is to attack from the opening bell and wrestle his way inside or Floyd and go to work inside at close range. A highly technical fight like Molina fought against Ishe Smith favors Floyd in a close bout, though. Molina did fight a better inside fight with Smith than Canelo did in his 12 round loss to Floyd. Molina at least got inside, and proved harder to hit at close quarters.
Molina has a chance of going the distance with Floyd, if he picks up the pace and comes forward in such a way as to prevent Floyd from running. The ring has to be cut off if Floyd is to be challenged. Floyd is not a standing target, but in Floyd’s first fight with Jose Luis Castillo, it was observed Castillo clearly outboxed Floyd for much of the bout. The framework to beat Floyd was established at that time. The game plan Molina attempts in a fight with Floyd has to be consistent and effective. Inside bodywork could theoretically break down Floyd’s defenses. However, if Molina allows Floyd to escape and jab out of range, as expected, Floyd will stop Molina anywhere from round nine onwards.
Another approach would be for Molina to slug it out with Floyd. As seen in Alfredo Angulo versus James Kirkland, this strategy does not work in the long run, as Molina would wind up punching himself out too early swinging it out with Floyd.
At 154 pounds, Floyd versus Molina could occur in May 2014 because it is the best and most logical fight now on the table for Floyd. Molina can beat Floyd if he can get inside Floyd and keep the fight there. It will be a dogfight for Molina to get the opportunity. Molina might have to beat Miguel Cotto or Canelo Alvarez first to get the chance. Floyd will try to park his fight on the outside along the edges of the ring, to keep the bout away from ring center. Floyd will probably stop Molina late, like in rounds 9, 10 or 11. If Molina goes 12 rounds, it will be a closer fight than Canelo versus Floyd, because King Carlos will have to enter the ring with a better game plan, and make changes as the bout progresses. Molina was the only fighter to beat a Floyd Mayweather fighter on Floyd’s last boxing card at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. However, the odds still say King Carlos cannot beat Floyd.
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