BoxRec

Due to the Steve Moliter v Gabula Vabaza fight being cancelled (Vabaza failed a blood test), it could mean a Moliter v Michael Hunter fight for the IBF title, as Hunter is the next ranked boxer.

Would be a good fight to see, Moliter has all the skill in the world, but is not a big puncher, so is an acceptable risk for Hunter.

Should be a great fight, i was disapointed that the vabuza vs molitor fight was canceled, would of been a great fight in my opinion to acctually see what he might be up against.

Mike "The Bounty" Hunter is back!!??


WOW!!!!

HeavyHitters wrote:Mike "The Bounty" Hunter is back!!??


WOW!!!!

Yes and unfortunately so are you.

steve689 wrote:

HeavyHitters wrote:Mike "The Bounty" Hunter is back!!??


WOW!!!!

Yes and unfortunately so are you.

Bit of a piece mentioning Hunters' title chances in on fightnews. It sounds like it could get messy.

Here is the piece word for word.

Molitor Aftermath

by Dave Spencer, FightNews Canada

2006-09-03

A blood disorder that is likely to KO the career of the IBF’s top ranked Gabula Vabaza is what apparently called an abrupt halt to his championship bout with Canadian Steve Molitor this past Friday September 1st. South African officials were tight-lipped as to what exactly was the telling blow that knocked Vabaza out a mere two days before his title shot, but according to published reports from South Africa, it is the end of the line for the undefeated 23-0-1 Vabaza. Toronto Star reports quoting James Jardine of Molitor’s management team speculates that the result was a positive HIV or hepatitis result for Vabaza, who has fought exclusively in South Africa and was served a six month suspension two years ago after failing a doping test.

What isn’t clear is if the bout wasn’t a world championship match, whether or not the failed test would have been administered. South African boxing spokesman cited ‘IBF policy’ as requiring fighters to undergo compulsory tests before fighting. Molitor submitted to a voluntary blood test a month ago and both camps agreed to another test on Monday.

Where exactly all this leaves Molitor’s championship hopes isn’t exactly clear. One report out of South Africa states that Molitor's camp have mandated promoter of the event Branco Milenkovic to handle negotiations for a fight against a new opponent to be named by the IBF. Certainly a bizarre twist if true as Molitor’s promoter Allan Tremblay already had a November 21st date lined up in Niagara Falls for what was supposed to have been a title defense by the Sarnia fighter. The Molitor-Vabaza championship fight never went to purse bid.

To this point Molitor has seemingly been in the driver’s seat in his quest to having a shot at a world championship, despite only being ranked #6 by the IBF. He was originally mandated by the sanctioning body to face champion Israel Vazquez when the Mexican was told that top ranked Sergio Medina was not available. When Vazquez who also owns the WBC 122-pound crown rightfully balked at fighting the number six challenger Molitor as a mandatory (the #1 and #2 spots were and continue to remain vacant), he was stripped of his title. The then previously ‘unavailable’ Medina was to have fought Molitor for the championship, another fight that also fell through. Still sitting at number six, it was hoped that a Molitor-Vabaza fight would produce a champion for the IBF who have recently stripped O’Neil Bell, Marco Antonio Barrera of their titles but maintained championship status for Zab Judah after losing to Carlos Baldomir.

Ahead of Molitor presently in the IBF is Michael Hunter of England who is slated to fight November 3rd and Ricardo Cordoba of Panama. Sitting directly behind Molitor at #7 is Takalani Ndlovu who, like Vabaza, is from South Africa. A fight having Molitor return to South Africa to face Ndlovu would seemingly make sense except that according to promoter Milenkovic, Ndlovu is the proposed opponent of Hunter in England, in what is supposed to be a title elimination bout.

Milenkovic quoted in the South African press had said that IBF President Marian Muhammad who made the trip to Johannesburg that Molitor will face another opponent for the championship with the winner facing Ndlovu or Hunter.

Reports in the Toronto Star though differ from Hunter-Ndlovu scenario. IBF championship co-ordinator Lindsey Tucker told the paper that EBU champ Hunter is the highest ranked fighter in the division and that the two parties have until September 22nd to work out an agreement. With A November 3rd date already set in England and a November 21st date in Niagara Falls, both sides are already set logistically for a bout. Failing an agreement by the September 22nd deadline, purse bids would be held ten days later, still seemingly in time for both dates, although James Jardine did not seem as optimistic.

"There's no guarantee that we can offer the fight to him and he'll jump on it," he told the paper. "Negotiations can go back and forth for a month, then we'd have no lead time for the fight.

Questions or Comments, contact Dave Spencer.


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What's happend to Israel Vasquez has he been stripped?

sounds like Hunter v Molitor could be on

http://www.hartlepooltoday.co.uk/ViewAr ... ID=1742981

Good opportunity for Hunter perhaps but I really don't think he'll beat Molitor.

nickd wrote:Good opportunity for Hunter perhaps but I really don't think he'll beat Molitor.

Agree entirely unfortunately.

stujones wrote:

nickd wrote:Good opportunity for Hunter perhaps but I really don't think he'll beat Molitor.

Agree entirely unfortunately.

Molitor is way too cute for him.

nickd wrote:

stujones wrote:

nickd wrote:Good opportunity for Hunter perhaps but I really don't think he'll beat Molitor.

Agree entirely unfortunately.

Molitor is way too cute for him.

Moliter would start a firm favourite, but its a fight worth taking, i can't see Moliter stopping Hunter ,and a decent showing by Hunter win or lose will only do him good on the world scene.

Wow world title fight staged in my hometown, nothing like this happens up here... Until now 8)

Hunter needs the crowd to be very Partizan and hostile and hope the occasion gets to Molitor can't see it though remember seeing Molitor against Booth he was very good that night.

HeavyHitters wrote:Mike "The Bounty" Hunter is back!!??


WOW!!!!

Oh no you didn't!