Boxing In Canada: Lopez Loses WBO Belt, Molitor Defeats Ledesma

There was a good fight card north of the border last night with a WBO title belt on the line as well as the continuing comeback of Canada’s top boxer, Steve Molitor, at his home base of Casino Rama in Rama, Ontario.

Longtime flyweight contender Jose Lopez of Puerto Rico finally hit the jackpot in March of this year, outpointing Thailand’s Pramuansak Posuwan to capture the vacant WBO super fly crown.

But making his first defense last night, the 37 year old from Trujilo Alto ran into trouble against WBO Oriental beltholder Marvin Sonsona.

The Filipino southpaw proved just too quick for the Puerto Rican vet and walked off with the WBO super fly trophy via a 114-111, 115-110 and 116-109 unanimous decision victory.

Sonsona has yet to taste defeat at 14-0 (12), while Lopez, 39-8-2 (32), sees an eight year, 16 bout no loss streak come to an end.

The top draw of the evening was local hero Steve Molitor, the former IBF super bantam boss who is now two bouts into a return from a stoppage loss at the hands of towering Panamanian double champion Celestino Caballero.

Sharp southpaw Molitor, 30-1 (12), outgunned chinny Paraguyan banger Feliciano Dario Azuaga Ledezma, 76-16-2 (64), in the early action, settling matters with a KO at 1:50 of the fifth frame.

The Canadian Kid is now the top rated IBF challenger and could meet Caballero in a rematch later this year.

On the undercard, Canadian heavyweight champ Grzegorz Kielsa, 10-0 (5), was involved in a second round no-contest against Kevin Montiy, 17-6-1 (13).