Heavyweight contender Eric “Drummer Boy” Molina is not ready to call it a career just yet.
For the first time since getting demolished last December by IBF, WBA, IBO champion Anthony Joshua, Molina headlined a card on Saturday night as part of the Xtreme Fight Night 4 boxing show at South Texas Fighting Academy in Palmhurst.
Molina (26-4, 19 KOs) won a six round majority decision over journeyman Jamal Woods (13-36-7) of Arkansas with scores of 57-57, 58-56, 59-55.
Woods is one of those journeyman fighters who has a tricky style and lost a lot of close decisions to up and coming prospects over the years, and he also has a good chin.
Molina realized before the contest every took place, that he would be in for a real fight.
“We knew that Jamal Woods is a 55-fight veteran who has fought against the greats all over the world,” Molina said to the Valley Morning Star. “I knew he was going to be tough and take my shots. I knew he was going to come in and give me some good rounds. He’s gone against every top heavyweight in the division. It was just a matter of getting in there and throwing some leather around (and getting the win).
“I’m blessed. I’ve been doing this for more than 10 years now. I do this to inspire these younger guys (students). I’ve taken my losses and I’ve always bounced back. If I can inspire just one person, it’s all worth it.”
Molina will continue with his day job as a special education teacher and he intends to get back to the gym, to train for his next fight.
“People fail to realize that as I box, I have my role as a teacher, too,” he said. “I want to continue in that role and represent my (Edinburg) school district, my community, and of course, the Valley. That’s my story and it will continue to be told.”
