14th-ranked US heavyweight Eric 'Drummer Boy' Molina dropped the concrete on former two-weight world champion Tomasz Adamek in the 10th round of their contest on Saturday night.
Molina, known primarily as a contender who has lost by knockout to both former title challenger Chris Arreola and current WBC beltholder Deontay Wilder, wasn't leaving anything to the judges in Krakow, as he retired Polish boxing's pride and joy with a stunning right hook whilst the bell sounded to end the tenth round.
39-year-old Adamek will likely be hearing bells until some time next Tuesday, but in do-or-die encounter for both fighters' careers, it's Molina who progresses with the Pole calling it quits in the ring after the fight. At the time of the stoppage, Molina trailed Adamek 88-83 on all three judges' scorecards.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JeQ26Y7bR04
The Texas native will surely fancy his chances in a rematch with perennial fringe contender Arreola, but his career remains one of those fascinating stories that wouldn't tend to reach even boxing fans across the Atlantic; the 33-year-old lost his first ever professional fight with a first round knockout back in 2007 - enough to make most pugilistic novices hang up the gloves.
He was taken out in the ninth round by Wilder in his sole title shot last year, but two consecutive stoppage victories will now propel him back to the fringes of belt contention. Indeed, he's already on record as to saying he wants the winner of Anthony Joshua and Charles Martin, and says he's willing to travel. Stranger things have happened. No, like, honestly, so many stranger things have happened - he's now a serious contender to be Joshua's next opponent.
Speaking after the fight, Molina made an impassioned speech about bouncing back from adversity.
Eric Molina with inspirational words after his KO victory over Tomasz Adamek #AdamekMolina #boxing #rgv pic.twitter.com/jy17FOlqSn
— Luis Ortiz (@OrtizSportsTV) April 2, 2016
Good for him.
