?This is not the end of the story. I?m not one to talk, but I?m not one to mess around. You will realize what I?m all about now??
Saturday night at the Manchester Arena in Manchester, Lancashire, United Kingdom, IBF World heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua (18-0- 18 KOs), the up-and-coming superstar from Watford, Hertfordshire, TKO?d Eric ?Drummer Boy? Molina (25-3, 19 KOs), the perennial contender from Weslaco, Texas, at 2:02 of the third round.
Fighting out of the blue corner in white trunks with black and red trim, 27-year-old Joshua barely broke a sweat.
Thirty-four-year-old Molina, fighting out of the red corner in black trunks, is a road warrior, but his driver?s license should be revoked.
No sooner had the opening bell rung than Molina retreated to the ropes. Joshua landed a jab and a short hook. A right hand got past Molina?s high guard. Two minutes passed before the challenger threw a punch, a halfhearted looping right hand to the champion?s hip. Molina did nothing in round one except survive.
Round two was no better. Molina again retreated to the ropes and refused to let his hands go. Defensive-minded to a fault, Molina had no game plan. He also had no resistance to Joshua?s punches. The champ landed a nice uppercut as Molina was on the retreat as the round drew to a close. The fight looked like a sparring session.
Joshua started the third by landing a jab-hook-right hand combination. Molina countered with a right to the body. Joshua wanted Molina out of there, but whenever he got close Molina held, prompting a warning from referee Steve Gray. Joshua landed another right followed by two lefts. Molina connected with a second right to Joshua?s body. Joshua unleashed a big right hand that dropped the ?Drummer Boy? to the deck. He was slumped in his corner but managed to get to his feet at the count of eight. Wobbly, dazed, and without a hope in the world, Molina ate several punches before turning his back and draping himself over the ropes.
The ref waved it off.
Molina had lost the fight before he even entered the ring. Joshua landed more punches than Molina threw.
Joshua is not yet a seasoned professional, having had a short amateur career and only 18 fight professional fights. But he is big, strong and disciplined, and appears to be improving with each fight. Notwithstanding the bout with Molina, which was a foregone conclusion, his next fight, against Wladimir Klitschko on April 29 at Wembley Stadium, will be a better test of what Joshua has to offer.
?I was patient and we move on this,? said Joshua after the fight. ?This is not the end of the story. I?m not one to talk, but I?m not one to mess around.
?You will realize what I?m all about now. Klitschko wants his belts back and may the best man win.?
