Boxing Preview: Molitor Puts IBF Title At Risk For First Time

After years of slugging it out in relative obscurity, Steve “The Canadian Kid” Molitor rose to prominence with a comprehensive fifth round KO over previously undefeated former British, Commonwealth and European titlist Michael Hunter last November in the Englishman’s hometown to annex the vacant IBF Super Bantam belt.

Tonight, Molitor, 23-0 (9), is set to return to the ring for the first time since that magical night and defend his IBF crown at the Casino Rama in Orilla, Ontario, Canada.

The southpaw from Toronto will certainly have his work cut out for him as he faces South Africa’s best super bantam, the reigning IBO Champion Takalani Ndlovu, 27-3 (17).

Molitor first proved that he was not an ordinary fighter in 2002 when in just his tenth career bout, he ended the career of former IBO Flyweight supremeo Scotty Olson in the fifth round to win the vacant Canadian Super Bantam strap.

Molitor won the WBF Bantam title in his next bout and five months later stunned Commonwealth Bantam Champion Nicky Cook on points in England.

In 2004, Molitor beat two time world title challenger Hugo Dianzo on points to secure the vacant NABA bauble and stopped two of his next three opponents before mauling Hunter in the UK eight months ago.

The man Molitor will face tonight, Takalani “Panther” Ndlovu, had an equally hard road to bring himself to world title contention.

Born in Soweto, South Africa, Ndlovu turned pro in April 1999 and quickly reeled off four victories before losing a rematch over four rounds on points to fellow novice Joshua Khoase.

Undeterred, Ndlovu went back to work and in April of 2004 handily outpointed future IBF and South African Featherweight Champion Malcolm Klaasen over six rounds.

For the next two years Ndlovu toiled away in obscurity, racking up nine wins before unseating South African Featherweight titlist Anthony Tshehla via crushing fifth round KO.

Ndlovu successfully defended the domestic 126 lb belt two times and also won two non title contests before losing a razor thin ten round split decision to former longtime IBF Super Feather Champion Vuyani Bunguu for an IBO Featherweight title eliminator in 2003.

Nine months later the two clashed again but this time it was for the full IBO title and Ndlovu once again came up short via a close split decision loss.

In 2005, Ndlovu dropped down to super bantam and posted a unanimous decision over Armando Guerrero in New York for the vacant IBO belt at 122 lb.

Last year, Ndlovu stopped veterans Fabio Daniel Oliva and Giovanni Andrade in title defenses before posting a split decision victory in his most recent fight over Ricardo Castillo in Chicago last December to retain the IBO title and also winning a IBF title eliminator.

For Molitor to hold onto his belt in this dangerous first defense, he’ll have to negate the reach advantage of Ndlovu and break through both a superb, frequent jab and a good defense in order to unleash the kind of aggressive and creative attack that stopped Michael Hunter.

To take the IBF title, Ndlovu must control the pacing of the bout with the jab and score with frequent right hand leads to keep southpaw Molitor from forming a sustained offense.