CARLOS MOLINA

Vital Statistics:

Age: 24
Hometown: Norwalk, Calif.
Weight class: lightweight
Height / reach: 5’7″ (170 cm)/ 70″ inches (180 cm)
Amateur record: 105-20
Turned pro: 2007
Pro record: 13-0, 7 knockouts
Trainer: Clemente Medina
Managers: Frank Espinoza
Promoter: Golden Boy Promotions

Best night of pro career: Out-boxed and out-muscled Glenn Gonzalez (8-1-1, 4 KOs) until his fellow prospect retired on his stool after five rounds. Molina was aggressive throughout the scheduled eight-round bout, part of a Telefutura telecast from Pico Rivera, Calif., in August, but he never lost his form or patience while outclassing the first southpaw of his pro career.

Worst night of pro career: Faded in the final rounds of a tougher-than-expected eight-round bout against Humberto Tapia (15-12-1, 8 KOs) on the undercard of Israel Vazquez-Rafael Marquez IV in Los Angeles in May. The young iron-chinned journeyman from Mexico took every power punch landed by Molina, who was hit more than usual down the stretch. Molina struggled to make weight in this junior welterweight bout. His management believes that was a factor in the less-than-impressive performance.

Next fight: Faces rugged journeyman John Figueroa (7-7-3, 3 KOs) in an eight-round main event of the final Fight Night Club show of 2010. The card from Club Nokia in Los Angeles will be televised on Fox Sports Net (tape delayed) and broadcast live on RingTV.com and Ustream.com (8:00 p.m. PT). Figueroa is a late substitute for fringe contender David Rodela, who had to withdraw from the bout after suffering injuries in a car accident. The 30-year-old Puerto Rican counter-puncher has compiled a 2-6-1 record over the past three years but was generally competitive with everyone he faced. Figueroa gave Molina’s promotional/managerial stablemate Luis Ramos Jr. (16-0) a tough fight in an eight-round unanimous decision loss in September.

Why he’s a prospect: Molina is a strong, aggressive boxer with quick hands and sharp technique. He had an extensive amateur background that included more than 100 bouts and two national titles (the PAL and Junior Golden Gloves in 2005), which he won at age 17. Molina is also mature for his age. He’s very poised in the ring for a fighter who doesn’t mind mixing it up every now and then.

Why he’s a suspect: Molina has struggled to weigh below 137 pounds in recent years. He’s recently added a nutritionist to his team to help him make the lightweight limit. If an improved diet doesn’t help him, he could be in trouble as he appears too short (and stocky) to make a serious run in the pros as a junior welterweight. Does not possess elite-level speed, power or overall athleticism.

Story lines: Molina is the oldest of three brothers who excelled in boxing. His younger twin siblings – Javier and Oscar – were also amateur standouts. In fact, they were more accomplished than their older brother. Javier fought for the United States in the 2008 Olympics and Oscar narrowly missed making Mexico’s 2008 Olympic squad (and remains an amateur with the goal of making the 2012 team). Carlos shared his brothers’ Olympic dream but he fell short in the open-class of the national amateur tournaments that a boxer must win or place high in order to qualify for the USA Olympic Trials. That’s OK. Molina got a head start in the professional ranks by turning pro in 2007 and signing with veteran manager Frank Espinoza, who guided Israel Vazquez to multiple world titles. He signed a promotional contract with Golden Boy Promotions after his seventh pro bout. Espinoza and Golden Boy Promotions have kept Molina busy. Thursday’s fight with Figueroa is his fifth bout of 2010 (as well as his third televised fight). So far, he’s pacing Javier, currently 4-0 with 4 KOs as a pro, to a world title.

Fight-by-fight record

2007
May 25 Mario Juarez UD 4
Aug. 18 Ricardo Martinez UD 4

2008
June 19 Odilon Rivera UD 4
July 30 Ramon Flores TKO 2
Oct. 17 Eligio Valenzuela TKO 1
Dec. 12 Genier Pit KO 4

2009
May 21 Anthony Martinez UD 6
July 30 Ever Luis Perez TKO 4
Aug. 27 Antony Nelson KO 1

2010
Jan. 29 Tyler Ziolkowski TKO 1
June 25 Hensley Strachan UD 4
May 22 Humberto Tapia UD 8
Aug. 13 Glenn Gonzales RTD 5