Former welterweight champion “Vicious” Victor Ortiz is back when he meets hard-hitting former title challenger John Molina Jr. in the 12-round main event of Premier Boxing Champions on FS1 live from Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario, California on Sunday, September 30.
Most remember Ortiz (32-6-3, 25 KOs) as he was the guy who kept his guard down on a break after giving Floyd Mayweather, Jr. a hug and was KO’d appropriately for it. Still the Mexican boxer originally from Kansas an all-action boxer-puncher who comes to fight and is always in exciting battles. The 31-year-old southpaw has one of the best resumes of anyone in the welterweight division having been in against Floyd Mayweather, Andre Berto twice, Lamont Peterson, Luis Collazo, and Marcos Maidana. Ortiz, who was born in Garden City, Kansas and now lives in Ventura, California, is coming off a majority draw against Devon Alexander in February.
“We’ve known each other a long time and we’re both always in exciting battles, so fans should expect nothing less on September 30,” said Ortiz. “I had a broken eye socket from an injury in the second round of the Alexander fight, but I’m feeling 100 percent now. I’m ready to take what is rightfully mine, and that’s another world title down the road. It’s going to be a war from round one and I can’t wait.”
Molina (30-7, 24 KOs) has never backed down from a challenge and has been in the ring with some of the best boxers from lightweight to welterweight during his career. The 35-year-old from Covina, California beat a fierce Ruslan Provodnikov by unanimous decision in 2016. Another standout battle from Molina’s career saw him drop former welterweight champion Lucas Matthysse twice before losing on an 11th round knockout. In his last fight, he scored a fourth-round TKO victory over Ivan Redkach in a back-and-forth bout from December on FS1.
“I respect Victor and everything he’s accomplished in this game, but I know that I have the tools to overcome everything he does,” said Molina. “Everyone knows that I’m in it to win it. We’re both going to be ready to mix it up and throw bombs. There is no way that I see this fight going the distance. It’s going to come down to heart and I’m going to be there until the final bell.”
Premier Boxing Champions has a major fight on September 8th in the Barclays Center with Danny Garcia vs. Shawn Porter and the Ortiz vs. Molina fight definitely cinches the month with coast to coast action in the weeks following the Canelo Alvarez vs. GGG fight on September 15th in Las Vegas.
