Éric Molina


Éric Lee Molina is a Mexican-American professional boxer. He has challenged twice for a world heavyweight title, in 2015 and 2016.

Professional career

Molina turned professional on March 17, 2007, losing his first professional bout by knockout. Despite losing his first pro bout, Molina went on an 18-fight unbeaten streak. On January 18, 2012, he stepped up and fought former two-time world heavyweight title challenger Chris Arreola, losing the fight by first-round knockout. Two and a half years later in May 2014, Molina scored his biggest professional career win by stopping former world heavyweight title challenger DaVarryl Williamson in five rounds.
On June 13, 2015, he fought for the WBC world heavyweight title against defending champion Deontay Wilder. Molina hurt the champion during the early rounds, but was knocked out in the ninth round. Molina scored the biggest win of his entire professional career in April 2016 by stopping former two-weight world champion Tomasz Adamek in the 10th round. Later that year, on December 10, he challenged for the IBF heavyweight title against champion Anthony Joshua in Manchester, England. Molina lost by third-round knockout.
On November 4, 2017, Molina, ranked #12 by the WBC at heavyweight, faced WBO #3, WBC #6 and IBF #7 Dominic Breazeale. In the eighth round, Breazeale caught Molina with a right hand to Molina's side of his head, which prompted Molina to take a knee. Molina managed to beat the count, but didn't look fit enough to continue. Despite making it to the end of the round, Molina's corner decided to stop the fight.
On May 22, 2018, Molina was suspended from fighting in the United Kingdom for two years by the UK Anti-Doping organisation after testing positive for the prohibited substance dexamethasone, a substance that the World Anti-Doping Agency lists as being prohibited during the "in competition" period only, following his December 10, 2016 world title fight with Anthony Joshua. The suspension ran from the date of an imposed provisional suspension, which began on October 28, 2017, and ended at midnight on October 27, 2019.
On December 7, 2019, Molina faced Filip Hrgovic, ranked #9 by the WBA and the IBF and #11 by the WBC. Hrgovic dominated the fight, and finished Molina in the third.
In his next fight on March 27, 2021, Molina fought heavyweight prospect Fabio Wardley at Europa Point Sports Complex in Gibraltar. Molina caught Wardley with a right hand in the fifth round, which prompted Wardley to retaliate and floor Molina. Molina would not beat the count and Wardley was awarded the KO win against Molina.
On 23 March 2023, he lost to Simon Kean by stoppage in the seventh round at Montreal Casino in Montreal, Canada.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
38Loss29–9Simon KeanTKO7, 2:39Mar 23, 2023Montreal Casino, Montreal, Canada
37Win29–8Jose CastroRTD3, 3:00Jul 30, 2022Costa Rica
36Loss28–8Alen BabićKO2, 2:33Oct 30, 2021The O2 Arena, London, England
35Win28–7Alejandro de La TorreKO3, 1:00Aug 28, 2021Matamoros, Mexico
34Loss27–7Fabio WardleyKO5, 0:52Mar 27, 2021Europa Point Sports Complex, Gibraltar
33Loss27–6Filip HrgovićKO3, 2:02Dec 7, 2019Diriyah Arena, Diriyah, Saudi ArabiaFor WBC International heavyweight title
32Win27–5Nick GuivasUD6Feb 15, 2019Amigoland Event Center, Brownsville, Texas, U.S.
31Loss26–5Dominic BreazealeRTD8, 3:00Nov 4, 2017Barclays Center, New York City, New York, U.S.
30Win26–4Jamal Woods6Sep 2, 2017South Texas Fighting Academy, Palmhurst, Texas, U.S.
29Loss25–4Anthony JoshuaTKO3, 2:02Dec 10, 2016Manchester Arena, Manchester, EnglandFor IBF heavyweight title
28Win25–3Tomasz AdamekKO10, 3:00Apr 2, 2016Tauron Arena, Kraków, PolandWon vacant IBF Inter-Continental heavyweight title
27Win24–3Rodricka RayTKO6, 1:17Sep 10, 2015Boggus Ford Events Center, Pharr, Texas, U.S.
26Loss23–3Deontay WilderKO9, 1:03Jun 13, 2015Bartow Arena, Birmingham, Alabama, U.S.For WBC heavyweight title
25Win23–2Raphael Zumbano LoveTKO8, 1:28Jan 17, 2015MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
24Win22–2Theo KrugerTKO3, 1:55Aug 2, 2014Boggus Ford Events Center, Pharr, Texas, U.S.
23Win21–2DaVarryl WilliamsonTKO5, 2:39May 10, 2014Galen Center, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
22Win20–2Tony GranoUD12Apr 27, 2013Citizens Business Bank Arena, Ontario, California, U.S.Won NABF heavyweight title
21Win19–2Andrew GreeleyUD6Jun 16, 2012Convention Center, McAllen, Texas, U.S.
20Loss18–2Chris ArreolaKO1, 2:30Feb 18, 2012American Bank Center, Corpus Christi, Texas, U.S.Lost WBC–USNBC heavyweight title
19Win18–1Warren BrowningTKO3, 0:24Aug 13, 2011The Joint, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.Won vacant WBC–USNBC heavyweight title
18Win17–1Joseph RabotteTKO6, 1:38Mar 12, 2011MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
17Win16–1Rayford JohnsonUD6Dec 10, 2010Casa de Amistad, Harlingen, Texas, U.S.
16Win15–1Leo Bercier3, 0:10Sep 30, 2010Joens Entertainment, Harlingen, Texas, U.S.
15Win14–1Chris ThomasTKO4, 0:48Jun 18, 2010Convention Center, McAllen, Texas, U.S.Retained WBC Latino cruiserweight title
14Win13–1Andrew GreeleyUD6Feb 6, 2010Convention Center, McAllen, Texas, U.S.
13Win12–1Gabriel HolguinUD10Sep 10, 2009Mooncussers, South Padre Island, Texas, U.S.Won vacant WBC Latino cruiserweight title
12Win11–1Clinton BondsKO1, 2:38Jun 19, 2009Dodge Arena, Hidalgo, Texas, U.S.
11Win10–1Osvaldo MartinezTKO3, 0:45May 15, 2009Casa de Amistad, Harlingen, Texas, U.S.Retained Texas cruiserweight title
10Win9–1Rayford JohnsonTKO3, 2:14Feb 27, 2009Casa de Amistad, Harlingen, Texas, U.S.Retained Texas cruiserweight title
9Win8–1David RobinsonTKO1, 2:51Sep 18, 2008Casa de Amistad, Harlingen, Texas, U.S.Won vacant Texas cruiserweight title
8Win7–1Douglas Robertson4Jul 4, 2008Dodge Arena, Hidalgo, Texas, U.S.
7Win6–1Anthony GreeleyTKO1, 2:38Jun 21, 2008Rio Grande Valley Harley-Davidson, McAllen, Texas, U.S.
6Win5–1Isaac RuizTKO2, 1:10Mar 28, 2008Municipal Auditorium, Harlingen, Texas, U.S.
5Win4–1Robbie McClimansTKO2, 1:09Dec 20, 2007Convention Center, Pasadena, Texas, U.S.
4Win3–1Brad BowersTKO1, 0:44Sep 26, 2007Casa de Amistad, Harlingen, Texas, U.S.
3Win2–1Ras ThompsonKO2, 1:28Aug 10, 2007Convention Center, McAllen, Texas, U.S.
2Win1–1Tim Harris1, 2:02Jun 22, 2007Convention Center, McAllen, Texas, U.S.
1Loss0–1Ashanti Jordan1, 1:45Mar 17, 2007Mandalay Bay Events Center, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.