Showtime Boxing: Molina Looks To Follow The ShoBox Tradition To A World Title

Unbeaten lightweight prospect John Molina Jr. hopes to do what Andre Ward and 39 other boxers have done before him: graduate from competing on ShoBox: The New Generation to becoming a world champion.

But first, Molina (18-0, 14 KOs), of Covina , Calif. , will have to get past veteran Martin “El Brochas” Honorio (26-4-1, 14 KOs) of Mexico in order to continue his ascension through the 135-pound ranks.

Molina will take on Honorio in a 10-rounder for the vacant North American Boxing Federation (NABF) lightweight championship on a special edition of ShoBox: The New Generation, this Saturday, Nov. 28 live on Showtime (11 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast).

Last week, Ward became the 40th ShoBox alum to win a world championship title with his victory over World Boxing Association (WBA) Super Middleweight Champion Mikkel Kessler in the Super Six World Boxing Classic. Ward, who fought, developed and tested himself in front of the live ShoBox audience, is the most recent alum to be crowned a champion.

Earlier in 2009, Yonnhy Perez, Antonio DeMarco and Yuri Foreman joined the elite group, which includes current stars Chad Dawson, Paul Williams and Timothy Bradley, by winning their first major world titles.

ShoBox: The New Generation features young, talented fighters in competitive matchups—often the most competitive matchups of their careers to that point. The platform allows these fighters to test their ability both physically and mentally in front of the bright lights of a nationally televised event. With success, fighters can prove to themselves and the world that they have what it takes to move through the contender ranks and one day become champion.

In Saturday’s co-feature, undefeated Los Angeles native Rico “Suavecito” Ramos (13-0, 8 KOs) will meet Los Angeles resident and super bantamweight standout Alejandro “El Alacran” Perez (14-1-1, 9 KOs ) in an eight-round super bantamweight bout.

The doubleheader two days after Thanksgiving will feature four boxers with incredible knockout power (45 knockouts among them). The event is promoted by Goossen Tutor Promotions and will emanate from the Pechanga Resort and Casino in Temecula , Calif.