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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Jake Donovan and other members of the press catch up with WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder, who successfully defended his title with a ninth-round knockout of Eric Molina on Saturday night at Bartow Arena.
Wilder (34-0) delivered a right hand that turned Molina around and sent him falling on his back. The referee quickly signaled that the fight was over, probably several rounds later than many observers anticipated with Wilder a heavy favorite.
The 6-foot-7 Wilder was stunned by Molina (23-3) in the third round, but came back to knock him down in the fourth and twice again in the fifth, practically running across the ring after him before Molina went down the third time. The Texan withstood barrages to the head in the sixth from Wilder, and then came back strong two rounds later, landing some hard body shots.
But the fight ended 1:57 into the ninth.
Wilder had become the first American heavyweight to claim a piece of the title with a Jan. 17 unanimous decision over Bermane Stiverne. That came after Wilder had recorded 32 consecutive knockouts within the first four rounds.
