By Erik Harris
BIRMINGHAM – A vicious right glove did it. It landed on the left ear of the challenger, Eric Molina, and told a perfect ending to a historic night in Birmingham.
In front of 9,347 fans in a packed-out Bartow Arena, Deontay Wilder successfully defended his WBC world heavyweight championship for the first time.
The Tuscaloosa native provided entertainment never before seen in the Yellowhammer state. With 1:03 remaining in the ninth of 12 scheduled rounds, Wilder put Molina on the mat for the fourth time, and this time it was for good.
On Saturday night, Alabama was the center of the championship boxing universe. And, even if for just those nine rounds, the state embraced the sport with the same passion it annually presents on Saturdays in the fall.
“This was a great evening of boxing here in Birmingham,” Don King, Molina’s promoter said during the post-fight press conference. “The big win tonight was by Alabama and the way that (Wilder) speaks of Alabama.”
It was the first time a world boxing championship fight came to Alabama, but Wilder is optimistic that it wont be the last. Not by a long shot.
“This is what it’s all about,” Wilder said in the SHOWTIME interview following the fight. “This is the first of many title fights in Alabama.”
Molina, a 239-pounder from Texas, experienced the champion’s power for the first time in the closing seconds of the fourth round. A mad left hook floored Molina, who bounced back to his feet in time for the fourth round bell.
Wilder wasn’t any nicer in the fifth round, sending the challenger to the mat twice more. But the heavy underdog refused to stop. With each knockdown, Molina saw an opportunity to get back up, and he did just that. At least he did the first three times down.
“To be honest, I definitely was surprised,” Wilder said. “It does my heart so good even standing in front of him right now and say this guy has heart. All the critics doubted him, all the naysayers said he wouldn’t last but I’m so proud of him. He has my support from this point on because this is the first ever title defense in any weight division in the state of Alabama.
“What I needed was a tough guy, I needed a guy that had heart, I needed a guy that was going to get dropped but come back up and still fight. I needed that. And Eric Molina, I got that out of him.”
The win improved Wilder’s record to 34-0, 33 of his victories have come via knockout. Molina, in a hard-fought effort, fell to 23-3.
A mandatory bought with Alexander Povetkin of Russia is looming for Wilder, but a fight in September will likely take place before he sets his sights on Povetkin, according to reports.
“Everything went just like I wanted it to go,” said Wilder. “I’m happy with the performance, I’m happy with the crowd, as far as everything that was involved, I’m happy.”