‘The Canadian Kid’ is fully recovered from injury and raring to go ahead of September 11th.
Steve Molitor hates resting. In fact he hates not being able to train full stop. So when the IBF super bantamweight champion was told that he would have to rest for at least 4 weeks following a stress fracture to his shin you can imagine how he took the news.
Despite his frustrations and following the rescheduling of his title defence against Jason Booth the 30 year old is now well on course to be fit for the September 11th show which will be held at the Rainton Meadows Arena in Sunderland.
“Without a doubt it’s frustrating.” explained Molitor.
“After I won the title on a Saturday (against Takalani Ndlovu) I was straight back in they gym on Tuesday and it’s hard not being able to train 110%.
“But in other ways it has been a blessing in disguise, I’m now a 100% recovered after taking all of the time off that the doctors advised me to.
“I’ve stayed in good shape, riding the bike etc but come September 11th I’ll be coming to fight.
For almost two years Molitor was unbeatable at the 8 stone 10 limit, all five of his wins coming at the Casino Rama in Ontario before his crushing knock out defeat to Celestine Caballero ended his unbeaten run as a professional as well as his reign as IBF champ.
Many ring writers have commented that the Canadian has not been the same since the fourth round stoppage, a claim that the fighter himself disputes:
“It’s true I am a different fighter since that defeat, for the better. In the Caballero fight up until the last 10 seconds, he didn’t touch me all night.
“People think Jason Booth has had an up and down life style but when my book comes out, people will understand that wasn’t the real Steve Molitor that night.”
Back in 2002 Molitor travelled over to Brentwood to face Jason Booth’s younger brother Nicky where he picked up the Commonwealth title with a 12 rounds points victory but knows all about the turbulent lifestyle of his opponent.
Booth spent two years out of the sport due to a crippling alcohol addiction but the champion is not underestimating the Nottingham slickster. He explained:
“He’s a tough guy and a lot of people are saying this is going to be an easy fight for me but he’s a veteran of the sport with nothing to lose but everything to gain.
“I know the lifestyle that he has lived, the whirlwind life he has had so I know he is going to bring everything in the fight and I know I’m going to have to be ready.”
The fight has been moved from 8pm on Saturday night with the fighters expected in the ring around 9pm which will guarantee the biggest fight audience of Booth’s career.
Tickets are still available for the world title show which will also feature Martin Lindsay and the Commonwealth title fight between Matt Marsh and Kris Hughes. For full ticket information log on to www.frankmaloney.com