Steve Molitor
Encyclopedia
Steve Molitor is a Canadian professional boxer
. He is the former International Boxing Federation
(IBF) Junior featherweight champion. He has a record of 33–2 (with 12 wins by KO
).
. He won five national titles at 112 pounds. He participated in the Olympic trials but lost a decision to the late great Mike Messel. His final amateur record was 93 wins and eleven losses.
Molitor became a professional boxer on May 18, 2000, with an eight-round decision over Julio Luna. In 2002 he scored his most notable win to date when he beat former Olympian Scotty Olson for the Canadian super bantamweight title. Later that year he beat Englishman Nicky Booth for the Commonwealth bantamweight championship. On April 21, 2004, Molitor defeated Hugo Dianzo for the vacated NABA North American title, by a unanimous decision.
On November 10, 2006, he knocked out Michael Hunter
in the fifth round for the vacant IBF super bantamweight championship title. On July 14, 2007, Molitor dismantled South Africa's Takalani Ndlovu in his first title defense, by scoring a 9th round TKO at Casino Rama
in Rama, Ontario
. He also defeated Thailand's Fahsan 3K Battery by unanimous decision on October 27 in his second defense, also at Casino Rama. On January 19, 2008 Molitor defended his title against Ricardo Castillo
, with a unanimous decision victory.
On April 5, 2008, Molitor again defended his title defeating Fernando Beltran in a twelve round unanimous decision, running his record to 27–0. The fight took place at Casino Rama.
In the early summer of 2008, Molitor parted ways with his trainer Chris Johnson
and replaced him by Stéphan Larouche
. On August 29 Molitor defended his title against the then unbeaten Ceferino Labarda
. He won the match by TKO. The fight took place at Casino Rama.
On November 21, 2008, Molitor lost in his attempt to unify his IBF super bantamweight title with the WBA title against Celestino Caballero
of Panama, the current defending WBA champion. Caballero won the fight in the fourth round by TKO at the Casino Rama, Ontario
.
Molitor next fought Heriberto Ruiz on June 26, 2009, again at Casino Rama. Molitor won the fight on a split decision.
Molitor reunited with Chris Johnson before his 5th round knockout win against Feliciano Ledezma on September 4, 2009 at Casino Rama.
On November 21, 2009, Molitor beat Jose Saez in 8 rounds via a unanimous decision.
On March 27, 2010, Molitor regained the IBF Junior Featherweight championship, again defeating Takalani Ndlovu
in 12 rounds by Unanimous Decision.
On March 26, 2011, in his third bout against Ndlovu, Molitor lost his title via unanimous decision. The judges' scores were 118-110, 116-112, and 118-110.
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
. He is the former International Boxing Federation
International Boxing Federation
The International Boxing Federation or IBF is one of four major organizations recognized by IBHOF which sanction world championship boxing bouts, alongside the WBA, WBC and WBO.- History :...
(IBF) Junior featherweight champion. He has a record of 33–2 (with 12 wins by KO
Knockout
A knockout is a fight-ending, winning criterion in several full-contact combat sports, such as boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, mixed martial arts, Karate and others sports involving striking...
).
Career history
Molitor began boxing at the age of nine, following in the footsteps of his brother, former commonwealth champion Jeremy MolitorJeremy Molitor
Jeremy Molitor is a former Canadian boxer and Commonwealth Games gold medalist, currently serving a life sentence for second-degree murder.-Boxing career:...
. He won five national titles at 112 pounds. He participated in the Olympic trials but lost a decision to the late great Mike Messel. His final amateur record was 93 wins and eleven losses.
Molitor became a professional boxer on May 18, 2000, with an eight-round decision over Julio Luna. In 2002 he scored his most notable win to date when he beat former Olympian Scotty Olson for the Canadian super bantamweight title. Later that year he beat Englishman Nicky Booth for the Commonwealth bantamweight championship. On April 21, 2004, Molitor defeated Hugo Dianzo for the vacated NABA North American title, by a unanimous decision.
On November 10, 2006, he knocked out Michael Hunter
Michael Hunter
Michael Hunter or Mike Hunter may refer to:* Michael Hunter , professor of history at Birkbeck, University of London* Michael Hunter , composer of sounds for Grand Theft Auto...
in the fifth round for the vacant IBF super bantamweight championship title. On July 14, 2007, Molitor dismantled South Africa's Takalani Ndlovu in his first title defense, by scoring a 9th round TKO at Casino Rama
Casino Rama
Casino Rama is a large casino, hotel and entertainment complex located on the reserve land of Chippewas of Rama First Nation, in the town of Rama, Ontario, Canada...
in Rama, Ontario
Rama, Ontario
Rama is the Ontario, Canada home of the Chippewas of Rama First Nation and Casino Rama. The community sports complex is called the Mnjikaning Arena Sports Ki, which was the home arena of the Couchiching Terriers ice hockey team, once affiliated with the Barrie Colts. The Ramakings lacrosse team...
. He also defeated Thailand's Fahsan 3K Battery by unanimous decision on October 27 in his second defense, also at Casino Rama. On January 19, 2008 Molitor defended his title against Ricardo Castillo
Ricardo Castillo
Ricardo Edgar Castillo is a Mexican professional boxer in the Featherweight division and the former NABF Featherweight Champion...
, with a unanimous decision victory.
On April 5, 2008, Molitor again defended his title defeating Fernando Beltran in a twelve round unanimous decision, running his record to 27–0. The fight took place at Casino Rama.
In the early summer of 2008, Molitor parted ways with his trainer Chris Johnson
Chris Johnson (boxer)
Chris Omar Johnson is a Jamaican-born boxer, who won a middleweight bronze medal at the 1992 Summer Olympics for Canada...
and replaced him by Stéphan Larouche
Stéphan Larouche
Stéphan Larouche is a Canadian boxing trainer based in Montreal, Quebec. Larouche has trained many of the best-known boxers of recent years in Quebec and was one of the two coaches of the Canadian team at the 2004 Summer Olympics. He was named as trainer of the year by FightNews Canada in 2005 and...
. On August 29 Molitor defended his title against the then unbeaten Ceferino Labarda
Ceferino Labarda
Ceferino Dario Labarda is a bantamweight boxer from Argentina, who represented his native country at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia, where he lost to Raimkul Malakhbekov of Russia...
. He won the match by TKO. The fight took place at Casino Rama.
On November 21, 2008, Molitor lost in his attempt to unify his IBF super bantamweight title with the WBA title against Celestino Caballero
Celestino Caballero
Celestino "Pelenchin" Caballero is a professional boxer from Panama. He is the former undisputed Super Bantamweight WBA & IBF and Super Champion for the WBA. On October 14th, 2011, Celestino became the new WBA Featherweight champion of the world after beating Jonathan Barros at Luna Park, Argentina...
of Panama, the current defending WBA champion. Caballero won the fight in the fourth round by TKO at the Casino Rama, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
.
Molitor next fought Heriberto Ruiz on June 26, 2009, again at Casino Rama. Molitor won the fight on a split decision.
Molitor reunited with Chris Johnson before his 5th round knockout win against Feliciano Ledezma on September 4, 2009 at Casino Rama.
On November 21, 2009, Molitor beat Jose Saez in 8 rounds via a unanimous decision.
On March 27, 2010, Molitor regained the IBF Junior Featherweight championship, again defeating Takalani Ndlovu
Takalani Ndlovu
Takalani Ndlovu , is a South African professional boxer with orthodox stance who goes by the nickname of "Panther". His professional record includes 38 fights: 32 wins , and 6 losses...
in 12 rounds by Unanimous Decision.
On March 26, 2011, in his third bout against Ndlovu, Molitor lost his title via unanimous decision. The judges' scores were 118-110, 116-112, and 118-110.