By Elisinio Castillo

Carlos Adames picked up the biggest victory of his career with a dominant performance over former IBF junior middleweight world champion Carlos Molina, who offered a good performance, but not good enough to overcome the rising slugger.

The event was staged at Hotel Jaragua in Santo Domingo, with Adames retained the World Boxing Association (WBA) Fedelatín welterweight title for the third time, with scores of 110-98, 109-99 and 110-98. The contest was set for 11 rounds because of the Fedelatin title rules under the World Boxing Association.

Molina saw his six-fight winning streak end with his record dropping down to 28-7-2, and eight knockouts, while Adames improved to 12-0, 10 by knockout.

Molina looked good in the first round, but Adames started letting those hands go in the second and scored a knockdown with an uppercut, hook combination. He was able to change the tempo of the fight from that point forward to control the contest.

The loss really hurts the future of Molina, who wanted to use a win over the rising prospect Adames to secure a crack at a welterweight world title.

Molina had a very good run in the junior middleweight division with victories over former world champions like Cory Spinks, Kermit Cintron and Ishe Smith, and draws against Julio Cesar Chavez Jr and Erislandy Lara.

Molina dropped down to welterweight last January and for two of his recent fights he was actually able to squeeze down to the junior welterweight limit.

Molina was ranked among the best in the division. Adames, who is ranked number 6 under the WBA, will see a significant increase based on this win.