Custio Clayton vs. Carlos Molina on Saunders vs. Lemieux Card

By Luke Furman

According to what was reported by Le Journal de Montreal, undefeated prospect Custio Clayton is going to step up in class by facing veteran welterweight contender Carlos Molina.

The fight will be part of the undercard to the highly anticipated fight where David Lemieux will challenge WBO middleweight world champion Billy Joe Saunders on December 16th at Bell Place in Laval, Canada. The event will be promoted by Eye of The Tiger Management, Frank Warren and Golden Boy Promotions.

Clayton (12-0, 9 KOs) will have the opportunity to get his hands on the WBO international title, and at the same time secure a place in the top five of the association's rankings if he comes out on top with Molina (28-8-2, 8 KOs).

Initially, the 30 year-old Canadian was scheduled to face Gabriel Ledesma (11-1, 5 KO), but he withdrew from the contest because his father, who is also his coach, was reportedly arrested for a serious crime, according to what was reported by channel TVA Sports on Friday.

When Clayton turned pro in December 2014, he signed on with Group Yvon Michel (GYM). The two sides parted ways in the month of October, and then Clayton hooked up with InterBox, which is also owned by EOTTM CEO Camille Estephan.

At the 2012 Summer Olympics, Clayton became the first Canadian to win a boxing bout in 8 years when he beat Oscar Molina in the opening round. Then he beat the Australian Cameron Hammond, before losing to Fred Evans of the UK in the quarterfinal.

Molina captured the IBF junior middleweight title from Ishe Smith in September 2013, but then lost the belt a year later to K9 Bundradge.

He eventually dropped down to the welterweight division and won his next six bouts - but he's lost his last two fights, both of which took place this year, to rising contenders Carlos Adames and Ahmed El Mousaoui

Luke Furman covers boxing for bokser.org