Up and coming lightweight prospect John Molina Jr. (21-1) spoke to BoxingScene.com about his TKO victory over the previously undefeated Hank Lundy last Friday on ESPN's Friday Night Fights. Molina struggled to get out of the gate but turned the fight around with a powerful overhand right in the 8th round that sent Lundy to the canvas. Molina talks about that vicious punch, getting the win and his future plans in this exclusive interview.
BoxingScene.com: First off congratulations on the win over Hank Lundy. Lets start with the knockdown. Take us through the knock down you scored in the 8th round.
John Molina Jr: The knockdown in the 8th round was actually the turning point of the fight man. I caught him because he was moving around a lot, picking and popping, moving back and forth. He was trying to play the whole, I can potshot because I am too fast and I am too good for you game. I knew that his heart was breaking and I kept the pressure on him and I kept breaking him down. I knew he was going to pivot out to my left so I threw a chopping overhand right and I connected mean on him man. I give him credit for getting up because I gave him a solid shot. He was out, his feet went up in the air and I think he woke up when he hit the ground because he got up pretty quick.
BoxingScene.com: I watched the replay of the knockdown a few times and that really was a hell of a shot that you hit him with. Did you think the fight was over when you hit him? Were you surprised he got up?
John Molina Jr: I honestly thought that was it man. I give him credit because he was a tough fighter. Although he never had a loss for words and talked a lot of crap about me, he still is a tough fighter. For him to get up from a shot like that showed a lot of heart for him.
BoxingScene.com: It appeared through the first four rounds Lundy's speed really bothered you but in the fifth round he seemed to take the round off and you seemed to get more comfortable. Was that a key turning point for you? What was it about his speed that you had trouble adjusting too?
John Molina: To be honest with you I knew he was going to run from me the whole night. My whole game plan was to, and I know this will sound backwards, but was to let him feel comfortable punching me. I wanted him to hit me so I could hit him. He is tricky and he is slick and the more and more he got comfortable, the more and more he fell into my trap so I could set up my big right hand.
BoxingScene.com: So you wanted him to feel comfortable and in control of the fight?
John Molina: Absolutely. After the first two rounds I realized that he couldn't hurt me. In one of the interviews after the fight he said he hurt me with an overhand right to the top of my head. The only shot that he hurt me with was a headbutt to the temple and from that I lost him for like two seconds because it really buzzed me pretty good. I was able to play it off. And after that he didn't hurt me. I don't know why they call him Hammerin' Hank. No disrespect but he is not a puncher by any means.
BoxingScene.com: Obviously you and him disagree on whether it was a good stoppage or not. At one point he was holding on to the ropes to keep himself up and later wasn't punching back when the fight was stopped. Give us your take on the stoppage.
John Molina: When he was holding himself up with the ropes I knew he was hurt. Then Joe Goossen my trainer told me that I needed to knock him out in the 11th round. He said if I didn't knock him out in the 11th round that he would just run the whole 12th. He said I needed to get it now and asked if I understood and I said yes. He said go get it now! When he was hurt along the ropes I knew he was in trouble and then I hit him with a clean right hand in the barrage at the end and his eyes started rolling and I started throwing a right hand and hit him through his peek-a-boo stance on the temple and it felt like a water balloon popped. I sh*t you not his eyes rolled all the way back to the back of his head and I knew he was done.
BoxingScene.com: What grade do you give your performance?
John Molina: For heart and will and coming forward I give myself an A. For performance I give myself maybe a C or maybe a C-.
BoxingScene.com: A win over an undefeated prospect like than on national television can do a lot for your career. What is next for you?
John Molina: Whatever Dan Goossen says is what we are going to do. That win I think catapulted me into the next stage of my career. I am very happy. The whole (Martin) Honorio fight is a thing of the past and we are happy about that.
BoxingScene.com: I am sure you are interested in the big fight in Las Vegas in a few weeks between Juan Manuel Marquez and Juan Diaz. How do you see the rematch playing out?
John Molina: It is going to be a hell of a fight but I am going to ride with Marquez on this one. I like Marquez in dramatic fashion at the end again.
BoxingScene.com: Would you like to fight Marquez down the road?
John Molina: I believe within a year or year and a half you will see that fight. God willing everything goes as planned and Dan (Goossen) can make that fight.
BoxingScene.com: Lundy talked a lot of smack leading up to the fight about you. Most of the smack was about boxing but some of it was personal like when he said you weren't very smart. Does that make the win even more satisfying?
John Molina: The guy has to eat a whole lot of crow now man. He talked a lot of crap and look what happened. I like to think of myself as a class act and never disrespect anybody. I never disrespected him because I knew he was a good fighter. He was a champion for a reason but believe me that made it so much more sweeter when I took that belt away from him by me going to his side of town, by him talking crap and talking in the newspapers and ripping up the rankings saying that everyone else was protected. He said he was in the ring with lions, and tigers and bears and King Kong and everyone else (laughing). To go into his backyard and take his belt was great. I broke his heart dude and he doesn't have the heart of a champion.
BoxingScene.com: Do you have a message for the fans?
John Molina Jr: Thank you everyone for supporting me. I said it once and I will say it again. I am willing to go out on my shield and I am willing to do whatever it takes to win and whenever you pay to see John Molina fight, that is exactly what you are going to see, a fight.
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