Éric Lee Molina (born April 26, 1982) is a Mexican-American professional boxer. He has challenged twice for a world heavyweight title, in 2015 and 2016.[1]

Éric Molina
Born
Éric Lee Molina

(1982-04-26) April 26, 1982 (age 42)
NationalityMexican-American
Other namesDrummer Boy
Statistics
Weight(s)
Height6 ft 4 in (193 cm)
Reach79 in (201 cm)
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights38
Wins29
Wins by KO21
Losses9

Professional career

edit

Molina turned professional on March 17, 2007, losing his first professional bout by knockout. Despite losing his first pro bout, Molina went on an 18-fight unbeaten streak. On January 18, 2012, he stepped up and fought former two-time world heavyweight title challenger Chris Arreola. Despite losing the fight by first-round knockout, Molina did manage to hurt Arreola. Two and a half years later in May 2014, Molina scored his biggest professional career win by stopping former world heavyweight title challenger DaVarryl Williamson in five rounds.

On June 13, 2015, he fought for the WBC world heavyweight title against defending champion Deontay Wilder. Molina hurt the champion during the early rounds, but was knocked out in the ninth round. Molina scored the biggest win of his entire professional career in April 2016 by stopping former two-weight world champion Tomasz Adamek in the tenth round. Later that year, on December 10, he challenged for the IBF heavyweight title against champion Anthony Joshua in Manchester, England. Molina lost by third-round knockout.

On May 22, 2018, Molina was suspended from fighting in the United Kingdom for two years by the UK Anti-Doping organisation after testing positive for the prohibited substance dexamethasone, a substance that the World Anti-Doping Agency lists as being prohibited during the "in competition" period only,[2] following his December 10, 2016 world title fight with Anthony Joshua. The suspension will run from the date of an imposed provisional suspension, which began on October 28, 2017, and will end at midnight on October 27, 2019.[3]

On November 4, 2017, Molina, ranked #12 by the WBC at heavyweight, faced WBO #3, WBC #6 and IBF #7 Dominik Breazeale.[4] In the eighth round, Breazeale caught Molina with a right hand to Molina's side of his head, which prompted Molina to take a knee. Molina managed to beat the count, but didn't look fit enough to continue. Despite making it to the end of the round, Molina's corner decided to stop the fight.[5]

On December 7, 2019, Molina faced Filip Hrgovic, ranked #9 by the WBA and the IBF and #11 by the WBC.[6] Hrgovic dominated the fight, and finished Molina in the third.[7]

In his next fight, Molina fought heavyweight prospect Fabio Wardley. Molina caught Wardley with a right hand in the fifth round, which prompted Wardley to retaliate and floor Molina. Molina would not beat the count and Wardley was awarded the KO win against Molina.[8]

Professional boxing record

edit
38 fights 29 wins 9 losses
By knockout 21 9
By decision 8 0
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
38 Loss 29–9   Simon Kean TKO 7 (10), 2:39 Mar 23, 2023   Montreal Casino, Montreal, Canada
37 Win 29–8   Jose Castro RTD 3 (8), 3:00 Jul 30, 2022   Costa Rica
36 Loss 28–8   Alen Babić KO 2 (8), 2:33 Oct 30, 2021   The O2 Arena, London, England
35 Win 28–7

  Alejandro de La Torre

KO 3 (8), 1:00 Aug 28, 2021   Matamoros, Mexico
34 Loss 27–7   Fabio Wardley KO 5 (10), 0:52 Mar 27, 2021   Europa Point Sports Complex, Gibraltar
33 Loss 27–6   Filip Hrgović KO 3 (12), 2:02 Dec 7, 2019   Diriyah Arena, Diriyah, Saudi Arabia For WBC International heavyweight title
32 Win 27–5   Nick Guivas UD 6 Feb 15, 2019   Amigoland Event Center, Brownsville, Texas, U.S.
31 Loss 26–5   Dominic Breazeale RTD 8 (12), 3:00 Nov 4, 2017   Barclays Center, New York City, New York, U.S.
30 Win 26–4   Jamal Woods MD 6 Sep 2, 2017   South Texas Fighting Academy, Palmhurst, Texas, U.S.
29 Loss 25–4   Anthony Joshua TKO 3 (12), 2:02 Dec 10, 2016   Manchester Arena, Manchester, England For IBF heavyweight title
28 Win 25–3   Tomasz Adamek KO 10 (12), 3:00 Apr 2, 2016   Tauron Arena, Kraków, Poland Won vacant IBF Inter-Continental heavyweight title
27 Win 24–3   Rodricka Ray TKO 6 (6), 1:17 Sep 10, 2015   Boggus Ford Events Center, Pharr, Texas, U.S.
26 Loss 23–3   Deontay Wilder KO 9 (12), 1:03 Jun 13, 2015   Bartow Arena, Birmingham, Alabama, U.S. For WBC heavyweight title
25 Win 23–2   Raphael Zumbano Love TKO 8 (8), 1:28 Jan 17, 2015   MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
24 Win 22–2   Theo Kruger TKO 3 (6), 1:55 Aug 2, 2014   Boggus Ford Events Center, Pharr, Texas, U.S.
23 Win 21–2   DaVarryl Williamson TKO 5 (10), 2:39 May 10, 2014   Galen Center, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
22 Win 20–2   Tony Grano UD 12 Apr 27, 2013   Citizens Business Bank Arena, Ontario, California, U.S. Won NABF heavyweight title
21 Win 19–2   Andrew Greeley UD 6 Jun 16, 2012   Convention Center, McAllen, Texas, U.S.
20 Loss 18–2   Chris Arreola KO 1 (12), 2:30 Feb 18, 2012   American Bank Center, Corpus Christi, Texas, U.S. Lost WBC–USNBC heavyweight title
19 Win 18–1   Warren Browning TKO 3 (12), 0:24 Aug 13, 2011   Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. Won vacant WBC–USNBC heavyweight title
18 Win 17–1   Joseph Rabotte TKO 6 (6), 1:38 Mar 12, 2011   MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
17 Win 16–1   Rayford Johnson UD 6 Dec 10, 2010   Casa de Amistad, Harlingen, Texas, U.S.
16 Win 15–1   Leo Bercier RTD 3 (6), 0:10 Sep 30, 2010   Joens Entertainment, Harlingen, Texas, U.S.
15 Win 14–1   Chris Thomas TKO 4 (10), 0:48 Jun 18, 2010   Convention Center, McAllen, Texas, U.S. Retained WBC Latino cruiserweight title
14 Win 13–1   Andrew Greeley UD 6 Feb 6, 2010   Convention Center, McAllen, Texas, U.S.
13 Win 12–1   Gabriel Holguin UD 10 Sep 10, 2009   Mooncussers, South Padre Island, Texas, U.S. Won vacant WBC Latino cruiserweight title
12 Win 11–1   Clinton Bonds KO 1 (4), 2:38 Jun 19, 2009   Dodge Arena, Hidalgo, Texas, U.S.
11 Win 10–1   Osvaldo Martinez TKO 3 (8), 0:45 May 15, 2009   Casa de Amistad, Harlingen, Texas, U.S. Retained Texas cruiserweight title
10 Win 9–1   Rayford Johnson TKO 3 (8), 2:14 Feb 27, 2009   Casa de Amistad, Harlingen, Texas, U.S. Retained Texas cruiserweight title
9 Win 8–1   David Robinson TKO 1 (8), 2:51 Sep 18, 2008   Casa de Amistad, Harlingen, Texas, U.S. Won vacant Texas cruiserweight title
8 Win 7–1   Douglas Robertson UD 4 Jul 4, 2008   Dodge Arena, Hidalgo, Texas, U.S.
7 Win 6–1   Anthony Greeley TKO 1 (6), 2:38 Jun 21, 2008   Rio Grande Valley Harley-Davidson, McAllen, Texas, U.S.
6 Win 5–1   Isaac Ruiz TKO 2 (6), 1:10 Mar 28, 2008   Municipal Auditorium, Harlingen, Texas, U.S.
5 Win 4–1   Robbie McClimans TKO 2 (8), 1:09 Dec 20, 2007   Convention Center, Pasadena, Texas, U.S.
4 Win 3–1   Brad Bowers TKO 1 (4), 0:44 Sep 26, 2007   Casa de Amistad, Harlingen, Texas, U.S.
3 Win 2–1   Ras Thompson KO 2 (4), 1:28 Aug 10, 2007   Convention Center, McAllen, Texas, U.S.
2 Win 1–1   Tim Harris TKO 1 (4), 2:02 Jun 22, 2007   Convention Center, McAllen, Texas, U.S.
1 Loss 0–1   Ashanti Jordan KO 1 (4), 1:45 Mar 17, 2007   Mandalay Bay Events Center, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.

References

edit
  1. ^ Staff (10 May 2011). "Eric "Drummer Boy" Molina: And the Beat Goes On – A Valley Boxer's Rise to Victory in Las Vegas". rgvisionmagazine.com.
  2. ^ Jay, Phil (27 July 2019). "EXCLUSIVE: I still use B12 UKAD banned me for today, says Eric Molina". Retrieved 2019-08-05.
  3. ^ "Boxer banned for two years | UK Anti-Doping". 2019-08-05. Archived from the original on 2019-08-05. Retrieved 2021-04-05.
  4. ^ "Breazeale vs Molina - News, Tape, Ringwalk, TV, Streaming & Tickets". Box.Live. Retrieved 2021-04-05.
  5. ^ Idec, Keith (4 November 2017). "Dominic Breazeale Drops, Stops Eric Molina at Barclays". BoxingScene.com. Retrieved 2021-04-05.
  6. ^ "Hrgovic vs Molina - News, Tape, Ringwalk, TV, Streaming & Tickets". Box.Live. Retrieved 2021-04-05.
  7. ^ Donovan, Jake (7 December 2019). "Filip Hrgovic Drops, Stops Eric Molina in Third Round". BoxingScene.com. Retrieved 2021-04-05.
  8. ^ "Povetkin-Whyte 2 undercard results: Cheeseman halts Metcalf in 11 rounds, Wardley KOs Molina in five". The Ring. 2021-03-27. Retrieved 2021-04-05.
edit
Sporting positions
Regional boxing titles
Vacant
Title last held by
Robbie McClimans
Texas cruiserweight champion
October 18, 2008 – 2010
Vacated
Vacant
Vacant
Title last held by
Wayne Braithwaite
WBC Latino
cruiserweight champion

October 10, 2009 – August 2011
Vacated
Vacant
Title next held by
Yuniel Dorticos
Vacant
Title last held by
Bermane Stiverne
WBC–USNBC
heavyweight champion

August 13, 2011 – February 18, 2012
Succeeded by
Vacant
Title last held by
Tony Grano
NABF heavyweight champion
April 27, 2013 – November 2013
Vacated
Vacant
Title next held by
Andy Ruiz
Vacant
Title last held by
Erkan Teper
IBF Inter-Continental
heavyweight champion

April 2, 2016 – December 10, 2016
Lost bid for world title
Vacant
Title next held by
Carlos Takam