Bronze Bomber “Successfully” Defends WBC Title for First Time in Alabama

Tonight WBC heavyweight champ, Deontay Wilder (34-0, 33 KOs) “successfully” defended his title for the first time. His opponent: 33-year-old ring veteran ranked #7 by WBC, Eric Molina (23-3, 17 KOs). Wilder notched a stoppage in the 9^th round with a crushing overhand right that made a snow angel of the challenger. As Molina was knocked down three other times this evening in Birmingham’s Bartow Arena, much-respected referee Jack Reese called him out even though the rocked Molina made it to his feet well before the ten-count.   After the fight, Reese said he did not like the body language of Molina after he fell the final time nor did he feel there was any chance of Molina winning mathematically. In the post-fight interview, Molina said he respected Reese’s decision.

Yet as the final score cards read 80-69, 79-70, 79-70, they really did not reflect just how much Molina, a special education teacher, was in the fight. Having Oliver “The Atomic Bull” McCall in his corner, Molina perhaps was inspired by McCall’s own miracle victory over Lennox Lewis in 1997. Molina hurt Wilder badly in the third round and in spots of their 9-round contest was effective with a body assault and powerful uppercuts. His undoing, however, as Showtime color analyst Paul Malignaggi noted, was that he did not commit to a jab he threw. “Either commit to the jab or don’t throw it all,” Malignaggi explained. The result of such hesitation in the sweet science is that a fighter who can’t make up his mind will then walk right into his opponent’s punch, as was the case tonight.

There’s a saying in boxing that warns a fighter never to allow the man across from him to get brave. Deontay Wilder allowed that to happen this evening, and in his hometown. Some say it was the pressure of his first title defense and doing it in front of his Alabama faithful didn’t lessen the pressure, but a true champion, especially a heavyweight, should never have a challenger of considerably less ability look good against him. If Wilder couldn’t run through a journeyman like Molina, what will happen if he ever fights Klitschko or even fellow American, Bryant Jennings—not to mention the boys across the pound—Fury, Joshua, and Haye?

We in America haven’t had a true heavyweight champion in some time and are perhaps a bit too overzealous to crown the young man from Alabama, king.

I think this is a little unfair to “The Bronze Bomber.” But if he keeps churning out performances like the one he did tonight, he’s going to have to change his name. Maybe “The Bronze ‘Goner.’”

-Ryan Agius/ @RyanJagius