Boxing In Canada: Molitor, Demers Victorious

There were two good fight cards in the Great White North last night, with IBF Super Bantam world titlist Steve Molitor leading the way at Casino Rama in Rama, Ontario on an Allan Trembly/Orion Sports promotion.

Sarnia, Ontario’s favorite son was facing perhaps his toughest challenge to date as a pro in the form of seasoned Mexican Fernando Beltran, Jr, who like Molitor is a quick southpaw and had given the world’s top super bantam at the time, Joan Guzman, a difficult challenge three years ago.

From the start, the bout fell into a comfortable pattern for Molitor, who prefers to counterpunch his opponents rather than take the lead, as Beltran surged forward trying to inflict damage.

But it was Molitor who landed the quality shots, ducking, dodging and bobbing away from much of the Mexican’s offense only to strike the target with confident counters that greatly impressed those in attendance and the ringside judges.

In the later rounds Beltran was more effective, cutting Molitor above the eye in the ninth, but lost a point in the same frame for low blows and was never really in the fight as the action came to a close after 12 sessions with “The Canadian Kid” winning the cards 120-107 twice and 119-108.

Molitor sees his record to a 27-0 (10) mark while retaining his IBF crown for the fourth time in only nine month’s time. The 28 year old Toronto area resident will be looking for a title unification match likely by the end of the year or in early 2009.

Beltran falls to 30-3-1 (18), losing for the first time since dropping a majority decision to spoiler Hugo Dianzo in 2005.

In other Canadian action on Saturday night, The Casino in Montreal saw IBF International Middleweight boss Sebastien Demers, 24-1 (9), win his fourth in a row since losing an IBF title challenge to Arthur Abraham last year by handling Minnesota veteran Matt Vanda, 37-6 (21), to post a wide 12 round points verdict.

Super middle southpaw prospect Adonis Stevenson, 11-0 (8), stayed perfect with a fifth round stoppage of Philadelphia veteran Dhafir Smith, 20-17-6 (4), and heavyweight Patrice L’Heureux, 22-4-1 (12), won his second in a row following a loss to Russian super prospect Alexander Povetkin last year by outpointing Chicago trial horse Ken Murphy, 22-23-2 (16), over six.

Middleweight Walid Smichet,18-4-3 (14), stopped Chris Archer, 9-3 (5), in the seventh less than two months after battering highly touted contender John Duddy only to lose a narrow majority decision to the Irishman in Duddy’s adopted hometown of New York.