| Molitor defends title |
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| Written by Sean Waisglass - mississauga.com | |
| Sunday, 15 July 2007 | |
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The fact that International Boxing Federation (IBF) junior featherweight champion Steve Molitor knocked out the number one ranked challenger Takalani Ndlovu was impressive enough.
The fact that he did it in the ninth round, the very round he had predicted earlier this week, was a feat akin to what Muhammad Ali used to do. “I predicted the ninth,” said a beaming Molitor, who lives and trains in Mississauga, during the post-fight press conference. “And, I knew if we stuck to the game plan, and hit to the body and used (my) boxing skills, he wouldn’t be around for the final bell.” The southpaw Molitor, now 24-0 (with 10 knockouts), clobbered Ndlovu, 27-4, with a crushing right hook early in the round to the delight of the roaring crowd of 5,200 in attendance at Casino Rama last night. The shaky South African challenger never regained his equilibrium and was knocked down two more times before referee Hubert Earl of Halifax called a halt to the bout. Molitor looked directly at Earl after the second knock down of the ninth, seemingly imploring the ref to stop the fight. Earlier in the match, Ndlovu missed landing a punch about midway through the second round and Molitor countered with a straight left to the nose and three quick shots to the body. Molitor kept his feet moving throughout the fight and was dancing in circles as Ndlovu kept moving forward. The challenger managed to slip a few right jabs between Molitor's gloves, but most of his shots didn't do any real damage. Molitor stuck to the game plan, landing several combinations and a few uppercuts. By round six, a winded Ndlovu could only lurch after Molitor as he moved throughout the ring. Although Molitor, 27, was out-boxing his game foe prior to the knockout by using smart footwork to control the pace, he was able to show that under the tutelage of trainer Chris Johnson he has greatly improved his punching power. “(The knockout) showed tonight that I’m a force to be reckoned with,” said Molitor, who’s anxious to unify belts with the other champions in the division. Molitor, nicknamed The Canadian Kid, was glad to get a chance to showcase his stuff for an appreciative home crowd. “I won the title in England (last November), and I’ve (fought) in a lot of people’s backyards before,” said Molitor. “To fight near my hometown is a big change, and one that I loved.” Sitting at the press conference table, with his world title belt in front of him, Molitor reflected upon the early years of his professional career when he was living above a boxing gym in Toronto and waiting for his opportunity. “People used to literally call me a gym rat,” he recalled with a smile, “but I just kept working hard, and it paid off.” “The world hasn’t seen the best of Steve Molitor yet,” added Johnson. Last night's main event was the first fight at Casino Rama since 2000 and the first major title bout in Ontario since 1984. The five-bout card was broadcast live in Canada on TSN and in South Africa. Promoter Allan Tremblay thinks he proved pro boxing can succeed in Ontario under the right conditions. "We hit a home run tonight," said Tremblay, head of Orion Sports Management. "All we needed was a star on the marquee to make it work." During the pre-fight ring announcements, Molitor wore a black shirt with Jeremy printed on it in recognition of his brother, who's incarcerated. |
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| Last Updated ( Sunday, 22 July 2007 ) |
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