Undefeated lightweight prospect John Molina Jr. talks to La Prensa about his November 28 main event debut vs. Mexico’s Martin Honorio at Pechanga Resort & Casino in Temecula

By Steve Galindo III 

 Next Saturday November 28th, at the Pechanga Resort & Casino in Temecula, San Diegans will have a rare chance to catch a glimpse of the most exciting young fighter in boxing. It’s been quite a year for Covina’s John Molina Jr. (18-0-14 KOs) in four fights this year, the hard hitting lightweight has made quick work of his opposition- so quick that all four opponents failed to make it past the third round. At 5’10, Molina possesses a rare combination of speed and strength, and has the ability to throw a hundred punches per round. In fact he is starting to draw early comparisons to former welterweight champion Antonio Margarito, coincidentally enough, in the past Molina has sparred with the Tijuana Tornado.

In his last outing, Molina was featured on the Chris Arreola-Vitali Klitschko undercard and easily dispatched of veteran Efren Hinojosa – in just 34 seconds with a wicked body shot. It is that type of performance that fans have gotten accustomed to seeing out of the 26-year-old, and that has captivated so-cal boxing fans for years. Molina’s exciting style has also caught the eye of officials at SHOWTIME. Next week will mark Molina’s third appearance on the premium cable network, and his most significant. Molina will make his main event debut, when he takes on Mexico’s Martin Honorio (26-4-14 KOs) in a scheduled 10-round bout for the NABF championship. For Molina, it is the culmination of year’s worth of hard work and dedication; I recently caught up with Molina to get his thoughts on the bout.

La Prensa:  John, first of all, for all the fight fans in San Diego that might not have heard of you, can you touch on how you got your start in boxing?

John Molina: My father was a fighter, he only went amateur because he and my mom were parents at the age of 15, and he’s always taught me the sweet science. I’ve boxed since I was 10-years-old as far as training and putting on the gloves. I knew when I was 16-17 years-old, that this is what I wanted to make a career of. I did the whole 9 to 5 gig and it just wasn’t for me.

La Prensa: Growing up, what fighters did you look up to?

JM:  Obviously, my generation was the Oscar De La Hoya generation. I obviously love Julio Cesar Chavez; I love the throwback Alexis Arguello. Oscar De La Hoya in my eyes was a great fighter, the guy’s really fought the best in his generation, and he’s also lost to the best in his generation-I think he’s a standup guy for that. In my eyes growing up and watching De La Hoya fight, was a big deal for me.

La Prensa: I heard a story that when you were younger, your father used to sneak you into bars to watch the De La Hoya fights, is that correct?

JM: Yes, he used to sneak me into the bars. He slipped the bouncer a twenty so they could get me in to watch the Quartey fight-or any other fight that De La Hoya was fighting, he would always get me in. It’s a good memory that I have of me and my dad, going into a bar when I was 12, 14-years-old and checking out the fights.

La Prensa: Your last fight against Efren Hinojosa lasted 34 seconds, can you talk about what it felt like getting a big win like that on such a big stage like the Staples Center.

JM:  It was such a surreal feeling to be able to share a locker with the like of Kobe Bryant, and Ron Artest. The Staples Center is like my backyard, to fight in front of that crowd, with all the stars that were in attendance- it’s something that you work for your whole life. The fact the Efren Hinojosa went eight rounds with the current world champion Robert Guerrero, I think that put an exclamation point on what I’m about, and the power that I possess by knocking him out in 34 seconds.

La Prensa: You have a huge fight coming up on November 28th in Temecula, at Pechanga Resort and Casino, it’s your first time as the headliner, can you tell the fight fans here in San Diego what they can expect to see?

JM: Short and sweet, they can expect to see a fight. We’ve worked really well, we’ve left no stone unturned. When I say we- I mean myself, my trainer- Joe Goosen, and John Molina Sr. I’ve done everything humanly possible to be well prepared for what Honorio has to offer. I respect him, I respect everything that he’s accomplished in the ring, and who he’s beaten, but I’ve worked too long and too hard to get where I’m at today. What the fans can expect from me is a fight-plain and simple, and I’m more than sure that Honorio is going to be willing to accommodate.

La Prensa: Your next opponent Martin Honorio, he’s a 10-year veteran with impressive wins-most notably over Steven Luveano, and Tijuana’s Cristobal Cruz, how do you envision this fight playing out?

JM: We have a game plan for Honorio. He’s rangy like myself, but I do believe that I’m the younger, stronger fighter in there. I’m going to try and dictate the pace, I’m going to impose my will on him, and make him uncomfortable as possible. Don’t get me wrong, if you follow my career, you do know that I possess one punch knockout power, and if the knockout presents itself-I’m going to sure as hell take advantage of it.

La Prensa: Would you say that this is your toughest test to date?

JM: Absolutely, being for who he is, and who he’s beaten, and what he has accomplished-and what’s at stake. This is definitely a turning point in my career, and with all that thrown into the mix, it does make for the toughest opposition as far as the pressure of performing that night, and performing well.

La Prensa: Headlining is something that every young fighter dreams about; can you tell us what it means to you?

JM:  It’s a surreal feeling, it’s something that I’ve been working for my whole life, and now it’s finally arrived. This is for the NABF, and NABO titles-which would put me in prime position to make a loud splash in the lightweight division. For the fans that don’t know me, or that don’t know what I’m about, come November 28th, it’s going to be a showcase of who, and what I’m all about.

La Prensa: Earlier this year, another young fighter Victor Ortiz was given a spot as a headliner on HBO. Many felt that the pressure was too much for him, and contributed to his loss that night. Mentally do you feel any pressure going into this fight?

JM:  Absolutely not. My last four fights I’ve been on some major cards, like Klitschko-Arreola, Chambers-Peters, and Miranda-Ward, so I’m able to deal with the pressure to a certain extent. I don’t feel that it’s overwhelming at all-by any means, mentally I’m very well prepared; Joe Goosen has me on a hell of a regimen. As far as the pressure November 28th headlining on Showtime, by no means is it different then fighting any other fight.

La Prensa: Many believe that a lot of today’s young fighters are being brought up to quickly, this is your fifth fight this year, is this a pace that you would like to keep up for the following year?

JM: Absolutely, as you can see the opposition is getting tougher, and tougher, it’s getting world class. I have 110% faith in my team, and putting me in the right fights at the right time. I don’t think I’m moving too fast by any means, I think we’re moving just right, and come November 28th it will show exactly where I’m at.

La Prensa: In this age of youtube, you’ve become kind of a human highlight reel. You seem to have a knack for the knockout, do you look for the knockout, or if it comes it comes?

JM: If a knockout presents itself, I’m well prepared, and I’ll take advantage of it. I didn’t plan to go out my last fight, and knockout Efren Hinojosa in 34 seconds, it was just in the cards. Another thing, were in a recession, so people pay their hard earned money to see John Molina fight, and that’s exactly what they are going to get- a fight.

La Prensa: In closing, is there a message that you would like to tell the fans here about your upcoming bout?

JM: If you don’t know who I am, or what I’m all about be prepared for an exciting, exciting fight. I promise you that I am coming to fight, there is no one that is going to be backing up in this fight, Honorio has a typical Mexican style, he likes to brawl, he likes to bring the fight, I myself love to fight, and it’s going to be fireworks. 

· Four other members of the Goossen Tutor stable are slated for action underneath the Molina-Honorio title bout, including undefeated Rico Ramos in the opening televised bout; and 2008 U.S. Olympians Shawn Estrada and Javier Molina. Estrada (6-0, 6 KO) , from East LA, will be after his seventh straight win in a four-round super middleweight bout. Molina (2-0, 2 KO), a welterweight from Norwalk, CA, has a four-rounder on tap.