Molina, Smith, Szpilka Win On Big Chicago Fight Card

This was a shady weekend in boxing; given the many eyes locked in on the Superbowl and other sporting events, nothing major was booked for the weekend’s boxing events but here at Saddoboxing, us fight maniacs have the big results from the Friday Night Fights bill at the UIC Pavillion in Chicago.

In the ESPN2 televised main event, light middleweight Carlos Molina, 21-5 (2), roughed up former welterweight and light middleweight world champion Cory Spinks, 39-8 (11), shattering the “Spinks Jinx” once and for all, winning an IBF Eliminator for the #2 position.

Molina’s dominance was evidenced by scores of 120-105, 199-106 and 119-106, producing two knockdowns while Spinks lost a point for holding.

Long story short, this puts Molina in the shortlist for an opportunity to face IBF titleholder Cornelius “K9” Bundrage or perhaps Mexican star and WBC champion Canelo Alvarez.

In the co-feature, Antwone Smith, 23-4-1 (12), made a fool of thrilling Mexican warhorse and former WBC lightweight champion Jose Luis Castillo, 64-12-1 (55), showcasing his jab and careful punch-placing in a 10 round light middleweight bout.

Smith, the fringe contender, did a number on the once great fighter, lining up a world level opportunity with this easy win. With the loss, the now 39 year old Castillo’s career at world class level is likely over.

Undercard results include highly touted Poland born heavyweight prospect Artur Szpilka, 13-0 (10), coming back in a classical veteran verses prospect throwdown to knock out battle hardened Italian-American Mike Mollo, 20-4-1 (12), in six rounds.

Mollo was eating sharp punches all night and suffered bad cuts over both eyes, but his unrelenting heart never showed remorse, slabbing Szpilka to the canvas twice. Mollo was ahead on the scorecards in a close war until Szpilka sliced him down with one brutally planned uppercut in round six.

Super middleweight contender Don George’s, 24-3-1 (21), quick massacre of James Cook, 11-5-1 (8), by first round KO in front of local fans added a solid rebounding victory after a damaging IBF Title Eliminator loss to Adonis Stevenson in an October 2012 clash.

George is ecstatic about his gradual transition to the Middleweight division, in which he hopes to get some solid wins.

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