BoxRec

With news coming that former heavyweight king Wladimir Klitschko will be in attendance in Manchester for Anthony Joshua’s IBF title defence against Eric Molina, some people are wondering if Joshua will be at all affected by the sight of the man he is set up to meet in a huge fight next March/April. Will Joshua try too hard to impress Klitschko? Will he take his eyes, and his concentration, off the man in front of him?

Joshua told Sky Sports how he aims to make the fight, his second title defence, “look easy.” Molina says there is no way AJ will have an easy night next month, and the Mexican/American also made it clear he does not want any excuses if Joshua underestimates him and winds up losing in a big upset. Molina told Sky Sports that he wants to face a Joshua who is fully focused and is taking his challenge seriously.


“I keep saying this to everyone. I don’t think there will be anyone who has an easy night against me,” Molina said. “I don’t think that’s the fighter I am any more. If he slips up one bit, it’s going to be a long night for [Joshua]. It’s not going to be an easy night. As much as he’s hoping for it, it ain’t going to be that. I’m going to test a lot of things about Joshua that I think the people don’t really understand. I hope he’s taking me serious, because I don’t want to hear any excuses after the fight.”

Don't think anybody has an easy night against me except those 2 guys that already did

I'm sure Joshua won't make any excuses for knocking him out in the 1st or 2nd round.

I clicked YES, because he can pull off an upset.

I give him about a 1 in 100 chance of doing so.

I mean, it's possible, though it'd be shocking. I hope he does it.

It's pretty terrible, they're only taking the cheapest noncontenders to fight Joshua.

I'll say it again Wilder got shit for fighting a guy that knocked out Molina in a round.

BitPlayer wrote:I mean, it's possible, though it'd be shocking. I hope he does it.

It's pretty terrible, they're only taking the cheapest noncontenders to fight Joshua.

I'll say it again Wilder got poo for fighting a guy that knocked out Molina in a round.

Wilder got sh*t for fighting Molina too. Joshua is getting sh*t for fighting Molina from most people. Another opponent like Molina on Joshua's resume next and I'll be hating on him the way I do Wilder.

Just watched the highlights of the Wilder fight. I think we can rule out a stamina advantage for Molina.

gilgamesh wrote:

BitPlayer wrote:I mean, it's possible, though it'd be shocking. I hope he does it.

It's pretty terrible, they're only taking the cheapest noncontenders to fight Joshua.

I'll say it again Wilder got poo for fighting a guy that knocked out Molina in a round.

Wilder got sh*t for fighting Molina too. Joshua is getting sh*t for fighting Molina from most people. Another opponent like Molina on Joshua's resume next and I'll be hating on him the way I do Wilder.

I don't know why you're even speculating that there would be another Molina style fighter with Klitchko reportedly in the crowd ahead of the bout early 2017.

The problem is, Wilder took on Molina in his 34th fight, and Joshua is taking on Molina, his highest ranked opposition to date, in his 18th fight. Once he takes on Klitchko, he'll have fought higher level opposition than most guys in the top 20.

I hope so. I'd love AJ to get sparked, especially by a D-Level fighter.

Very festive of Eddie to serve up Joshua's fans with such a nice fat turkey at Christmas.

Molina lol, he even struggled against that Polish light heavyweight. And he thinks he has a chance?

I've put a bet on Josh ko1 but lord, would I not love it if Molina kod him. The last time I would've laughed so hard was when Prescott kod Khan in less than a round....

Unlikely though, it's an awful fight - Molina doesn't have ONE advantage to bring to the table...

He won't hear anything after the fight, until he comes round in the dressing room

Rob3_142 wrote:

gilgamesh wrote:

BitPlayer wrote:I mean, it's possible, though it'd be shocking. I hope he does it.

It's pretty terrible, they're only taking the cheapest noncontenders to fight Joshua.

I'll say it again Wilder got poo for fighting a guy that knocked out Molina in a round.

Wilder got sh*t for fighting Molina too. Joshua is getting sh*t for fighting Molina from most people. Another opponent like Molina on Joshua's resume next and I'll be hating on him the way I do Wilder.

I don't know why you're even speculating that there would be another Molina style fighter with Klitchko reportedly in the crowd ahead of the bout early 2017.

The problem is, Wilder took on Molina in his 34th fight, and Joshua is taking on Molina, his highest ranked opposition to date, in his 18th fight. Once he takes on Klitchko, he'll have fought higher level opposition than most guys in the top 20.

Well if he actually fights Wlad we'll stop talking about it. Until then. . . .

Maybe Molina has turned a corner without us noticing... but my best guess is that he'll be flying out of Manchester beltless and having been given a right belting.

Molina will probably ask when he's finally going to fight AJ about one day after the fight.