# Éric Molina

Éric Lee Molina (born April 26, 1982) 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. Despite losing the fight by first-round knockout, Molina did manage to hurt Arreola. 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 tenth 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 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 will run from the date of an imposed provisional suspension, which began on October 28, 2017, and will end at midnight on October 27, 2019.
On November 4, 2017, Molina, ranked #12 by the WBC at heavyweight, faced WBO #3, WBC #6 and IBF #7 Dominik 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 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, Molina fought heavyweight prospect Fabio Wardley. 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.

## Professional boxing record

| 38 fights | 29 wins | 9 losses |
| By knockout | 21 | 9 |
| By decision | 8 | 0 |
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
| 38 | Loss | 29–9 | Simon Kean | TKO | 7 (10), 2:39 | Mar 23, 2023 | Montreal Casino, Montreal, Canada | |
| 37 | Win | 29–8 | Jose Castro | RTD | 3 (8), 3:00 | Jul 30, 2022 | Costa Rica | |
| 36 | Loss | 28–8 | Alen Babić | KO | 2 (8), 2:33 | Oct 30, 2021 | The O2 Arena, London, England | |
| 35 | Win | 28–7 | Alejandro de La Torre | KO | 3 (8), 1:00 | Aug 28, 2021 | Matamoros, Mexico | |
| 34 | Loss | 27–7 | Fabio Wardley | KO | 5 (10), 0:52 | Mar 27, 2021 | Europa Point Sports Complex, Gibraltar | |
| 33 | Loss | 27–6 | Filip Hrgović | KO | 3 (12), 2:02 | Dec 7, 2019 | Diriyah Arena, Diriyah, Saudi Arabia | For WBC International heavyweight title |
| 32 | Win | 27–5 | Nick Guivas | UD | 6 | Feb 15, 2019 | Amigoland Event Center, Brownsville, Texas, U.S. | |
| 31 | Loss | 26–5 | Dominic Breazeale | RTD | 8 (12), 3:00 | Nov 4, 2017 | Barclays Center, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 30 | Win | 26–4 | Jamal Woods | MD | 6 | Sep 2, 2017 | South Texas Fighting Academy, Palmhurst, Texas, U.S. | |
| 29 | Loss | 25–4 | Anthony Joshua | TKO | 3 (12), 2:02 | Dec 10, 2016 | Manchester Arena, Manchester, England | For IBF heavyweight title |
| 28 | Win | 25–3 | Tomasz Adamek | KO | 10 (12), 3:00 | Apr 2, 2016 | Tauron Arena, Kraków, Poland | Won vacant IBF Inter-Continental heavyweight title |
| 27 | Win | 24–3 | Rodricka Ray | TKO | 6 (6), 1:17 | Sep 10, 2015 | Boggus Ford Events Center, Pharr, Texas, U.S. | |
| 26 | Loss | 23–3 | Deontay Wilder | KO | 9 (12), 1:03 | Jun 13, 2015 | Bartow Arena, Birmingham, Alabama, U.S. | For WBC heavyweight title |
| 25 | Win | 23–2 | Raphael Zumbano Love | TKO | 8 (8), 1:28 | Jan 17, 2015 | MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. | |
| 24 | Win | 22–2 | Theo Kruger | TKO | 3 (6), 1:55 | Aug 2, 2014 | Boggus Ford Events Center, Pharr, Texas, U.S. | |
| 23 | Win | 21–2 | DaVarryl Williamson | TKO | 5 (10), 2:39 | May 10, 2014 | Galen Center, Los Angeles, California, U.S. | |
| 22 | Win | 20–2 | Tony Grano | UD | 12 | Apr 27, 2013 | Citizens Business Bank Arena, Ontario, California, U.S. | Won NABF heavyweight title |
| 21 | Win | 19–2 | Andrew Greeley | UD | 6 | Jun 16, 2012 | Convention Center, McAllen, Texas, U.S. | |
| 20 | Loss | 18–2 | Chris Arreola | KO | 1 (12), 2:30 | Feb 18, 2012 | American Bank Center, Corpus Christi, Texas, U.S. | Lost WBC–USNBC heavyweight title |
| 19 | Win | 18–1 | Warren Browning | TKO | 3 (12), 0:24 | Aug 13, 2011 | The Joint, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. | Won vacant WBC–USNBC heavyweight title |
| 18 | Win | 17–1 | Joseph Rabotte | TKO | 6 (6), 1:38 | Mar 12, 2011 | MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. | |
| 17 | Win | 16–1 | Rayford Johnson | UD | 6 | Dec 10, 2010 | Casa de Amistad, Harlingen, Texas, U.S. | |
| 16 | Win | 15–1 | Leo Bercier | RTD | 3 (6), 0:10 | Sep 30, 2010 | Joens Entertainment, Harlingen, Texas, U.S. | |
| 15 | Win | 14–1 | Chris Thomas | TKO | 4 (10), 0:48 | Jun 18, 2010 | Convention Center, McAllen, Texas, U.S. | Retained WBC Latino cruiserweight title |
| 14 | Win | 13–1 | Andrew Greeley | UD | 6 | Feb 6, 2010 | Convention Center, McAllen, Texas, U.S. | |
| 13 | Win | 12–1 | Gabriel Holguin | UD | 10 | Sep 10, 2009 | Mooncussers, South Padre Island, Texas, U.S. | Won vacant WBC Latino cruiserweight title |
| 12 | Win | 11–1 | Clinton Bonds | KO | 1 (4), 2:38 | Jun 19, 2009 | Dodge Arena, Hidalgo, Texas, U.S. | |
| 11 | Win | 10–1 | Osvaldo Martinez | TKO | 3 (8), 0:45 | May 15, 2009 | Casa de Amistad, Harlingen, Texas, U.S. | Retained Texas cruiserweight title |
| 10 | Win | 9–1 | Rayford Johnson | TKO | 3 (8), 2:14 | Feb 27, 2009 | Casa de Amistad, Harlingen, Texas, U.S. | Retained Texas cruiserweight title |
| 9 | Win | 8–1 | David Robinson | TKO | 1 (8), 2:51 | Sep 18, 2008 | Casa de Amistad, Harlingen, Texas, U.S. | Won vacant Texas cruiserweight title |
| 8 | Win | 7–1 | Douglas Robertson | UD | 4 | Jul 4, 2008 | Dodge Arena, Hidalgo, Texas, U.S. | |
| 7 | Win | 6–1 | Anthony Greeley | TKO | 1 (6), 2:38 | Jun 21, 2008 | Rio Grande Valley Harley-Davidson, McAllen, Texas, U.S. | |
| 6 | Win | 5–1 | Isaac Ruiz | TKO | 2 (6), 1:10 | Mar 28, 2008 | Municipal Auditorium, Harlingen, Texas, U.S. | |
| 5 | Win | 4–1 | Robbie McClimans | TKO | 2 (8), 1:09 | Dec 20, 2007 | Convention Center, Pasadena, Texas, U.S. | |
| 4 | Win | 3–1 | Brad Bowers | TKO | 1 (4), 0:44 | Sep 26, 2007 | Casa de Amistad, Harlingen, Texas, U.S. | |
| 3 | Win | 2–1 | Ras Thompson | KO | 2 (4), 1:28 | Aug 10, 2007 | Convention Center, McAllen, Texas, U.S. | |
| 2 | Win | 1–1 | Tim Harris | TKO | 1 (4), 2:02 | Jun 22, 2007 | Convention Center, McAllen, Texas, U.S. | |
| 1 | Loss | 0–1 | Ashanti Jordan | KO | 1 (4), 1:45 | Mar 17, 2007 | Mandalay Bay Events Center, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. | |