Tomorrow night at Casino Rama, Steve (The Canadian Kid) Molitor plans to tune up and branch out.
As the former IBF 122-pound champ awaits another title shot, he’ll stay busy against Paraguayan Feliciano Dario Azuaga in the co-feature of the latest edition of the Rumble at Rama series.
That bout is scheduled for eight rounds and after it ends Molitor will shower, put on a suit and return to ringside and work as a TV analyst for the main event, a world title bout between Puerto Rico’s Jose Lopez and Marvin Sonsona of the Philippines.
Promoter Allan Tremblay first conceived the idea, seeing it as an ideal way to showcase Molitor’s public speaking skills and boxing knowledge.
“There aren’t too many people, let alone boxers, that are fans of the game with the … knowledge that he has,” Tremblay said. “If he can articulate that to a television audience, with the reputation he’s earned and what he has done for boxing … it’s a natural.”
And Molitor, who recently reunited with estranged trainer Chris Johnson, doesn’t mind a chance to grab the spotlight on a show he’s not headlining.
“I study boxing 24/7, so (Tremblay) thought it would be a good fit,” Molitor said. “I’m drop-dead gorgeous, so I belong on TV.”
Neither fighter nor promoter thinks Molitor’s post-fight television gig will distract him from his primary job – defeating Azuaga.
The 35-year-old Paraguayan is himself a replacement for an Argentine opponent who couldn’t secure a visa to come to Canada. His 76-15 career record includes 64 KOs, but few significant victories. Azuaga hasn’t defeated a fighter with a winning record since 2003.
Tremblay says he doesn’t mean to disrespect Azuaga, but admits he would never line up a post-fight TV appearance if Molitor were fighting a more accomplished opponent.
Canadian viewers won’t see the fight card until Saturday night, when TSN will air it on tape delay, but the event will be broadcast live in both the Philippines and Puerto Rico, where Lopez hopes this event will cement his status among the island’s elite fighters.
