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Carlos Molina vs. Cory
Spinks
Headlines Feb. 1 On ESPN2
ESPN Friday Night Fights will return to the UIC Pavilion on
FEBRUARY 1, 2013 headlined by an IBF Junior Middleweight
Title Eliminator between Chicago fan favorite and perennial
contender “King” Carlos Molina and two division and
five-time world champion Cory “The Next Generation” Spinks.
Presented by 8 Count Productions, Round 3 Productions,
Warriors Boxing and Blue Wave Boxing in association with Don
King Productions, advance tickets are priced are $151, $101,
$51 and $31 and can be purchased through Ticketmaster (Ticketmaster.com,
1-800-745-3000), the 8 Count Productions Offices,
312-226-5800 or the UIC Pavilion Box Office, 312-413-5740.
Also featured at ESPN Friday Night Fights is a sensational
ten round welterweight clash between Mexican boxing legend
and two-time former world champion Jose Luis “EL Terrible”
Castillo and upset minded Miami, Florida’s Antwone “The
Truth” Smith.
In a special attraction eight round clash, fast rising
Polish heavyweight prospect Artur “The Pin” Szpilka will
battle Chicago based heavyweight contender “Merciless” Mike
Mollo.
Additionally featuring in separate bouts will be local
favorites; middleweight contender Donovan “Da Bomb” George,
23-3-1 (20KO’s), highly regarded and undefeated super
middleweight prospect Mike “Hollywood” Jimenez, 8-0-0
(5KO’s) and popular welterweight newcomer Jimmy Murphy,
1-0-0 (1KO).
“We’re very proud to work with the terrific team at ESPN on
this Friday Night Fights presentation and we’ve got a
sensational card to kick off the 2013 year in style for
Chicago boxing fans.” said Dominic Pesoli. President of 8
Count Productions.
“This the first time in over four years that Carlos has
fought at home in Chicago and it’s a huge opportunity for
him to face a multiple time world champion in Cory Spinks.”
“In the co-main we’re bringing back former world champion
Jose Luis Castillo who won a fantastic “blood and guts” war
with Ivan Popoca in July at the UIC Pavilion and our special
attraction between Szpilka and Mollo should be bombs away
from the opening bell.”
“Complimenting these three fights Donovan George is
returning to fight in Chicago for the first time in two
years, ‘Hollywood’ is back at the UIC Pavilion where he won
his first three pro fights by knockout and we’re excited to
have Jimmy Murphy fight on our card for the first time.”
“We’ve had massive crowds at the UIC Pavilion for our last
two events and we’re expected another tremendous crowd of
Chicago boxing fans. For the best seats, I strongly
encourage fans to purchase tickets in advance for this
event.”
The 29-year-old Molina, 20-5-2 (6KO’s), known for his
sensational upset performances over his eight-year
professional career, is coming off a ten round shutout
unanimous decision win over Damian Frias on AUGUST 17 which
was also broadcast on ESPN Friday Night Fights.
Earlier this year, Molina was the victim of horrendous
judgment as he was disqualified him after the tenth round
enroute to a decisive victory over James Kirkland on MARCH
24 in Houston, Texas.
In a bout broadcast on HBO’s World Championship Boxing,
Molina’s corner mistakenly entered the ring before the bell
rang following the tenth round. At the time of the stoppage
Molina was significantly ahead on two of the scorecards.
Born in Patzcuaro, Michoacan de Ocampo, Mexico, Molina holds
victories over former world champion Kermit Cintron, very
highly controversial draws with former world champion Julio
Cesar Chavez Jr. and Erislandy Lara and clear-cut victories
over contenders Danny Perez, Allen Conyers, Ed Parades and
Alexis Camacho.
Fighting out of St. Louis, Missouri and from the legacy of
his father, heavyweight champion Leon Spinks and uncle,
light heavyweight champion Michael Spinks, Cory Spinks has
won world titles three times in the welterweight division
and twice as a junior middleweight.
Spinks’ illustrious career included an up and down 2012 as
he looked sensational defeating Sechew Powell in a twelve
round unanimous decision on JANUARY 28 but getting stopped
by Cornelius Bundrage in the seventh round on JUNE 30 as he
challenged for the IBF Junior Middleweight Title.
Molina is currently world ranked #4 by the IBF and #7 by the
WBC while Spinks is ranked #12 by the IBF.
The 23-year-old Szpilka, 12-0-0 (9KO’s), a native of
Wieliczka, Poland, will be making his Chicago debut in front
of the huge legion of Polish fight fans.
Sporting an undefeated record of 12-0-0 (9KO’s), the hard
hitting southpaw is coming off his career best victory, a
dominant ten round unanimous decision on JUNE 30 over
two-time world title challenger Jameel McCline in Lodz,
Poland.
Born and raised in nearby Oak Lawn, Illinois, the heavy
handed Mollo, 20-3-1 (12KO’s), is best known in Chicago for
two brutal second round knockouts; over Mike Tyson conqueror
Kevin McBride at the Allstate Arena in 2006 and contender
Art Binkowki at the Sears Centre in 2007.
In his last start, Mollo battled to a hard fought eight
round draw with Gary Gomez on AUGUST 6, 2010 at the UIC
Pavilion.
Fighting in the ten round televised co-main event, former
two-time world champion Jose Luis Castillo, 64-11-1 (55KO’s)
will return to the UIC Pavilion against Antwone Smith
following his eighth round stoppage of Chicagoan Ivan Popoca
on JULY 13 which was broadcast on ESPN Friday Night Fights.
The 25-year-old Smith, 22-4-1 (12KO’s), heads back to the
ring following a career highpoint with a ten round decision
win over previously undefeated Ronald Cruz on SEPTEMBER 21,
broadcast on NBC Sports Network from the Sands Casino Resort
in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.
Further details on this world-class evening of professional
boxing will be announced shortly.
The UIC Pavilion is located at 525 S. Racine, at the corner
of Harrison and Racine on the campus of University of
Illinois-Chicago. Doors on the night of the event will open
at 7pm with the first bell at 7:45pm.
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