Molina stops Brooks in two!

December 29, 2007

By Francisco Salazar at ringside
Photos: Big Joe Miranda

There is no need to give lightweight John Molina a gift for his birthday. He gave himself the best birthday gift by scoring a knockout victory.

Molina will always remember his 25th birthday as he scored a second round stoppage victory over previously-unbeaten Eddie Brooks before a sold-out crowd of over 1,200 at the Quiet Cannon in Montebello, CA.

The bout headlined a seven-bout "Battle of the Rising Stars" card, presented by All Star Boxing Promotions.

The battle of unbeaten lightweight prospects was a test for both fighters. Although both fighters had a combined record of 15 victories with 10 knockouts between them, the bout would answer questions about who is ready to step up in class.

Brooks took control of the fight from the opening bell, utilizing his speed and jabs to the head of Molina. The shorter Brooks would move in and out of Molina's long reach , avoiding getting hit by Molina's right hands.

It looked as though Molina had a hard time adjusting to the speed of Brooks. Brooks landed a series of right hands to the head of Molina as the first round ended.

"I know I started a little slow," admitted Molina after the fight.

Brooks continued to land straight right hands to the head of Molina. Sensing he had the bout in control, Brooks would pose with his hands down to his waist, baiting Molina to come forward.

Big mistake.

Molina fainted allowing Brooks to open up and counter. After the faint, Molina landed a counter right cross that dropped Brooks to the canvas. The pro-Molina crowd roared as Brooks looked dazed, sitting with his legs out until he got up at the count of eight.

Molina went right at Brooks, who was still on shaky legs. Referee Raul Caiz, Jr. immediately stepped in and stopped the bout at 2:17.

"He (Brooks) is a hell of a fighter," said Molina, who is coming off a first round knockout victory over Ronald Boyd in August. "He had a great amateur background. He was a little cocky having his hands down to his waist. I knew I was going to land the right hand. I set it behind the jab and once he opened up, I was able to catch him.

Afterwards, Molina understood there is room for growth despite displaying patience and knockout power.

"Everyday is a learning day. There are some flaws that I still need to fix. (Trainer) Ben (Lira) has taught me all I know. 2008 is going to be a good year for me. This is a good win for me considering he has a legitimate amateur background."

Molina, from Covina, CA, improves to 9-0, 7 KO's. Brooks, from Phoenix, AZ, falls to 7-1, 3 KO's.

Jesus Hernandez remained unbeaten with a four round unanimous decision over Miguel Reza in a Featherweight bout.

Hernandez scored a knockdown towards the end of the first round with a left hook to the head that wobbled Reza, eventually putting him down. Reza got up and fought back bravely until the bell sounded.

Throughout the rest of the bout, Hernandez was the busier and most accurate fighter of the two. Hernandez worked well behind a jab and countered effectively to the head of Reza. Although he would be outboxed during most exchanges, Reza would press the action, scoring at times.

However, Hernandez was in control for most of the fight as he was able to win through a workmanlike performance.

All three judges scored the bout 39-36 in favor of Hernandez. Fightnews.com scored the bout the same.

Hernandez, from Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico, goes to 5-0. Reza, from Oxnard, CA, drops to 3-4-1.

In the walkout bout of the evening, Artyom Houhannisyan remained unbeaten, stopping Terrence Jett in the fourth round in a scheduled four round Lightweight bout.

Houhannisyan (earlier, it was incorrectly stated as Hovanessian in previous print) was the superior fighter of the two due to his 250 amateur fights in Europe and his native Armenia.

Houhannisyan went after Jett, landing hard combinations as he had Jett pinned against the ropes or in a corner. One of these exchanges was a 15-20 unanswered punch combination by Houhannisyan in the second round. To his credit, Jett fought back and did not back down.

However, Houhannisyan was able to land a series of right hands to the head of Jett.

In the final round, a combination finally hurt Jett along the ropes. Houhannisyan went in for the kill, throwing hard shots against a defenseless Jett, who had back into a corner. Referee Raul Caiz, Jr. stepped in and stopped the bout at 42 seconds, despite the protests of Jett.

Houhannisyan, from Glendale, CA by way of Yerevan, Armenia, improves to 5-0-1, 2 KO's. Jett, from Las Vegas, NV, falls to 3-8-2, 1 KO.

Middleweight Jonathan Suarez stopped Peter Nylund in the second round of a scheduled four round bout.

Suarez was on the offensive from the opening bell, pinning Nylund against the ropes and throwing to the head and body. Nylund did his best to fight off the ropes, but Suarez got the better of the exchanges until the bell sounded.

Picking up where he left off in the second, Suarez went to work taking the fight to Nylund. Suarez landed a right hand-left hook combination that dropped Nylund to the canvas. Nylund got up, but was in no condition to continue, prompting referee Dr. Lou Moret to stop the bout at 48 seconds.

Suarez, from Burbank, CA, improves to 1-0-1, 1 KO. Nylund, from Beverly Hills, CA by way of Boraas, Sweden, drops to 3-3-1, 3 KO's.

Light Heavyweight Francisco Mora earned his first victory in his professional debut, scoring a four round unanimous decision victory over Jacob Chavez.

Chavez took the fight to Mora from the opening bell, landing a series of right hands to the head. Mora began to bleed profusely from the nose as Chavez went straight forward.

However, Mora came on in the second round. Turning southpaw, Mora began to land hard left hands to the head of a retreating Chavez. Mora landed a different array of hooks and crosses to the head and body. Chavez had a point deducted from him in the round for dropping his mouthpiece during an exchange.

Chavez was in survival mode the rest of the fight as he backed up and threw one punch at a time. Mora continued to press the action, landing to the head and body. Mora was successful in landing left uppercuts and left crosses to the head until the final bell.

All three judges scored the bout 40-35 in favor of Mora. Fightnews.com scored the bout 39-36 in favor of Mora.

Chavez, from Las Vegas, NV, falls to 0-3.

Super Featherweight Cesar Garcia ruined the professional debut of Joaquin Hernandez, stopping him in the third round of a scheduled four round bout.

Hernandez, from El Monte, CA, came out at the opening bell throwing wide punches that rarely connected. Garcia made adjustments and began countering to the head of Hernandez, who left himself wide open after throwing the wide, looping punches.

Garcia scored a knockdown with a counter right hand to the head of Hernandez in the second round. After Hernandez stood up, Garcia was unable to follow up as he threw wild punches in hopes of scoring another knockdown.

In the third round, Garcia landed another right hand to the head that buckled Hernandez' legs. Garcia went in for the kill, but referee Raul Caiz Jr. wisely stepped in and stopped the bout at 53 seconds, preventing Garcia from further hurting Hernandez.

Garcia, from Bell Gardens, CA, improves to 1-2-1, 1 KO.

Super Welterweight Javier Sanchez won his professional debut, winning by unanimous decision over Mario Evangelista in a four round bout.

Sanchez, from Long Beach, CA, pressured Evangelista into corners, pinning him and throwing wide punches. Evangelista countered well, landing shots to the head.

Evangelista had solid defense as Sanchez continued to pressure. Evangelista began to throw more punches, working the body with left hooks.

Sanchez turned up the pressure in the third round. He was rewarded by landing more to the head and body. Evangelista began to slow down and dropping his hands, allowing Sanchez to land. Sanchez got a second wind and finished the fight strong as Evangelista looked winded at the closing bell.

All three judges scored the bout in favor of Sanchez, with scores of 40-36, 40-36, and 39-37. Fightnews.com scored the bout 38-38.

Evangelista, from Mazatlan, Sinaloa, Mexico, drops to 1-1, 1 KO.

Notes: - All Star Boxing returns to the Quiet Cannon in Montebello on Friday, February 15th. For tickets and information, contact All Star Boxing at (323) 816-6200.

- Ring announcer was Jim Fitzgerald.