LINCOLN, Rhode Island (July 9, 2010) – Challenger John Molina, Jr. needed a knockout to win and he did just that, stopping defending champion and previously unbeaten “Hammerin” Hank Lundy for the NABO lightweight title tonight on ESPN Friday Night Fights, live from Twin River Event Center in Lincoln, RI.
The “Let Freedom Ring” card was presented by Jimmy Burchfield’s Classic Entertainment and Sports, Inc., in association with Goossen-Tutor Promotions.
After being out-boxed for seven rounds, Molina dropped WBO No. 7 rated Lundy with a counter right-hook in the eighth round, giving John new life and momentum. Referee Ricky Gonzalez ended-up halting the action in the 11th round, somewhat controversially, as Molina pounded Lundy on the ropes.
Lundy (18-1-1, 10 KOs) was led after 10 rounds by scores of 98-91 twice and 97-92.
“(Trainer) Joe Goossen told me to going out for the 11th round that I needed a knockout and not to wait for the 12th,” Molina (21-1, 17 KOs) admitted he knew he was significantly behind in scoring. “He (Lundy) is kind of quirky. He didn’t have any power. No disrespect, but he didn’t want to fight. The only time he wobbled me was with a punch to the top of my forehead. I thought the count was a little long in the eighth. Hey, I’m a fighter who’ll go out on his shield and I think I proved that tonight.”
Both fighters, naturally, felt differently about the referee’s stoppage. “He was swaying back and forth,” Molina remarked. “He was a good actor, too. I know I had him hurt and it was a good stoppage. He’s a very good, technically sound fighter. This was the hardest fight of my career. I have dynamite in both hands.”
“The stoppage was premature,” Lundy claimed. “I had the fight. It is what it is but I wasn’t hurt.”
In an action-packed co-feature, former University of Rhode Island football player Vladine Biosse made a name for himself in the ring on a much larger stage than he’s ever been on, taking the New England super middleweight title from defending champion “Irish” Joey McCreedy (11-5-2). Biosse (7-0) used his superior quickness to his advantage, out-punching the rugged McCreedy from start to finish in a battle of friends and CES stable-mates.
Biosse had never been in any fight longer than 4-rounds, but he was fresh through the eighth and final round, and won a unanimous decision (79-73, 79-73, 78-74). “I wanted everybody to know that, even though I haven’t been in this game too long, I’m an athlete,” Biosse said after the fight. “Any chance I get, in life, not just in boxing, I overcome adversity and did that tonight. I’m hoping for bigger and better fights. Joey’s tough. He gave it his best, never quit, and tonight I was the better man in the ring.”
Super lightweight prospect Diego Pereira (5-0, 2 KOs) remained unbeaten, winning a 4-round unanimous decision against Richard Calazada (2-2). In a super middleweight bout, Keith Kozlin improved his record to 6-1 with a stoppage of a game Eric Pinaretta in the third round. Providence fire fighter Eric Estrada, brother of 2004 U.S. Olympian Jason “Big Six” Estrada, made a memorable pro debut by dropping Keon Graham (2-3) twice in the second round, the last ending the fight.
Welterweight Aleksandra Magdziak Lopes (3-1) avenged her only loss with a win by 6-round decision against previously undefeated Kali Reis (2-1). Super middleweight Joe Gardner (5-1-1) outpointed Demarcus Clark (1-3) in a 4-round bout. Light middleweight Dustin Reinhold (2-1) jumped all over Joel Nieves (0-3) from the opening bell until the fight was stopped at 1:47 of the opening round.
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