BoxRec

JASON BOOTH will fulfil a boxing dream when he challenges Canadian Steve Molitor for the IBF world super-bantamweight title next month.

The Nottingham star (35-5) will meet southpaw Molitor (32-1) on Friday July 23 at a venue in England that promoter Frank Maloney will confirm later this week.

Victory for Booth will complete one of the most remarkable comebacks in boxing history having led a rollercoaster life outside of the ring.

Booth, 32, is a recovering alcoholic and has also overcome drug problems to turn his career around.

Booth said: “The world title fight is such a bonus for me and now I want to win it so much. I am so lucky to have the things I do in life now.

“I am happy with what I have achieved in boxing, but thanks to my trainer Tony Harris, manager Jimmy Gill and Frank Maloney I have an opportunity to do better.”

During a 14-year career Booth has won British and Commonwealth flyweight titles, the IBO super-flyweight crown, Commonwealth bantamweight championship plus British and Commonwealth belts at super-bantamweight.

He hasn’t touched alcohol for two years and added: “If I hadn’t had boxing, I’d be dead; the drink would’ve beaten me.

“When I have to stop I’ll be alright now. I’ve got me kids now, they’re me focus. I think I’ve just grown up.

“Jimmy knows which opponents I can beat and Maloney’s been a big help. He’s always liked me and he’s given me opportunities. 

“Tony's a friend who’s been in my life since I was young. I’ve always trained at his gyms, on and off. I don’t need much training but he’s very good on his tactics and especially calm in his corner work.”

Maloney said: “If Jason pulls this off after the car crash life he has had, it will give me more pleasure than seeing Lennox Lewis become world heavyweight champion.”

Molitor, 31, won the IBF crown for the second time when he outpointed Takalani Ndlovu in March.

His first reign as champion started in November 2006 when he knocked out Hartlepool’s Michael Hunter in five rounds.

Molitor made five successful defences, but his reign ended two years later when he was stopped in four rounds by Celestino Caballero in a unification fight.

Hunter is their one common opponent – Booth also claimed a five round win over him last October.

Booth won’t be after Molitor’s treasured world title belt, but also family revenge. Molitor visited these shores in September 2002 and took the Commonwealth bantamweight title from Jason’s younger brother, Nicky.

The fight will be televised live by Sky Sports.

FULL VENUE DETAILS, TICKET INFO AND PRESS CONFERENCE DETAILS WILL BE ANNOUNCED LATER THIS WEEK.

looken forward to this fight

Steve Molitor is hardly your typical Canadian fighter - not for him the legendary ruggedness of George Chuvalo and Yvon Durelle, the restless aggression of the Fighting Hiltons, the tragedy that is Arturo Gatti. Molitor brings real intelligence to his fights and to his life. He lives clean, he trains hard, he does 12 rounds and he takes the points. This is a man who once literally lived in a gym; this is a champion.
Southpaw Molitor defends his IBF super-bantamweight title against Nottingham veteran Jason Booth next month in Britain - the same Booth who admitted to a drink problem a few years ago and whose brother, Nicky, handed over a fine career to drugs, crime, prison and Jeremy Kyle. The contrast is particularly intriguing. Before he went off the rails, Nicky was floored and outboxed by Molitor over here in September 2002. Born-again Jason, who conquered the bottle and has come back better than ever, will want to even the score. He knows that Molitor never looked like stopping Nicky, despite the first-round knockdown. Nicky even dug deep and put in a big finish to the 12-rounder, but Molitor was too good in the end.
Jason is probably the most 'natural' fighter in British boxing today. The 32-year-old fights like a fresh-faced youngster as he breaks up his opponents with a mixture of head and body shots - nothing seems to faze him. He recently stopped Hartlepool tearaway Michael Hunter in five rounds; Hunter was also stopped stopped in five by Molitor in 2006.
Molitor was unbeaten in those days but later suffered his only defeat when Panamanian puncher Celestino Caballero mauled him in four rounds in Canada. He came back to win the IBF belt with a hard-earned decision over South Africa's Takalani Ndlovu earlier this year but had previously outclassed Ndlovu on the way to a nine-round stoppage. The word is that Molitor - ever the 'thinker' - lost his confidence after Caballero, that he is gun-shy, that he is there for the taking.
The unpeturbed Booth will surely test all that.

can't express how happy i am for jason..model pro to all youngsters, can't believe this guy has never had a payday of more then 15k..even if he gets beat by molitor he will still have a nice payday and say he challenged for a world title, if he wins then there should be a bloody movie made about this guy.

Pleased for him.

Will be up aginst it, but good luck to him.

its the right move. booth showed vulnerability in his last fight. cash out now against molitor rather than lose at british level.

His brother actually gave Molitor a tough fight. Of course Molitor has improved since then, but as Bennie mentioned, Molitor hasn't looked the same since the defeat to Celestino Caballero. If Jason's last performance was just an off night, I give him a chance.

hope they put this on a Saturday night with a stacked undercard and not on FFN

Can't wait for this. Jason deserves it and his life story deserves a happy ending.

PS great coverage on the Sky Sports website, apparantley it is Nicky Booth fighting Molitor on July 23rd!

great story!! made up for booth D

go on Jason my son!

Great work by lil Frank here too well done fella! Booth seemed to be destined to perhaps stay at euro level but getting him this shot is a great coup.

I hope he can turn into a fairytale ending.

Two good boxers on display here. could be a good un!

Alba wrote:hope they put this on a Saturday night with a stacked undercard and not on FFN

it's defo a friday night :(

When was the last time a world title fight was on FFN?

Terrrrry wrote:When was the last time a world title fight was on FFN?

Witter / Harris or Molitor / Hunter

Surprised this is happening in England. Molitor always sells out in Rama and is the only Canadian fighter with a national T.V. deal. I have already posted my opinion on what the outcome will be, Molitor should win clearly on points. However, I will be pulling for Booth as I am not exactly a fan of Molitor's sleep inducing style. At least Booth has a feel good story to tell.

Terrrrry wrote:When was the last time a world title fight was on FFN?

brian13 wrote:Witter / Harris or Molitor / Hunter

When was that Witter fight, 2007?

From last Friday, one of the worst FFN's I've ever seen, to a world title fight being on there in July. Strange!

Mismatch imo, even though I think Molitor is on the slide a little Booth is levels and levels below him.....I fully expect it to be a similar fight to the Hunter match just going a couple of rnds more.