By Ryan Maquiñana

One week after his thrilling war against Alfredo Angulo where he withstood a first-round flooring to stop the Mexican in the sixth round, the reborn James Kirkland and his team are already looking at their next challenge at junior middleweight.

“They’re talking about [Sergio] Martinez at 160, and Lara, but I’d rather see [Kirkland] fight Carlos Molina,” said Cameron Dunkin, Kirkland’s manager.

Molina has suddenly become the most avoided fighter in the 154-pound division after a controversial draw with Erislandy Lara that many thought he won as well as pitching a virtual shutout against Kermit Cintron.

“The fight makes sense.  Molina’s a good fighter.  He beat Cintron, [and] should have beaten Lara.  We’d like that fight next.”

Ryan Maquiñana is the boxing correspondent at Comcast SportsNet Bay Area, a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America, and Ring Magazine’s Ratings Advisory Panel.  E-mail him at rmaquinana@gmail.com, check out his blog at www.maqdown.com or follow him on Twitter: @RMaq28.