Steve Molitor vs. Ceferino Dario Labarda

Steve Molitor vs. Ceferino Dario Labarda (IBF Jr Featherweight Championship)

Molitor is another guy who i have heard much about, being from my home and native land (Canada). But i have never seen him fight. He is the IBFJr Featherweight champion which is a 122lbs weight limit. This is supposed to be a gimmie bout for Molitor on the way to a unification bout with Celestino Caballero the WBA champ.

Round 1: Labarda comes out quick and has Molitor on the defense, but hes not landing much. Molitor lands a nice jab. Molitor is letting him get off but he is blocking most of the shots. Molitor has nice defense. Defnitely Labarda's round though. He was very active and landed some decent punches. Very much a feeling out process. 10-9 Labarda

Round 2: Again Molitor is on the retreat, Labarda coming forward but he's reaching with his punches. no major damage being done by either guy yet. Molitor landing more effective punches now. Using his jab well, making Labarda miss and landing a left. Labarda is the more active fighter, but Molitor landing the cleaner punches 10-9 Molitor

Round 3: Labarda missing a lot. Molitor catches him with a right while he is off balance and knocks the Argentinian back a few steps, which in turn wakes up the crowd for a moment. Nice shot to the body from Labarda. Nice crisp left from Molitor but it doesnt phase Labarda much. Right, left from Labarda that gets Molitor to stop laying on the ropes. 10 seconds to go Molitor finishes strong with another solid left. 10-9 Molitor

Round 4: Labarda hits the gloves a lot. Molitor with very solid defense. Molitor counters him well on the ropes this round. He's clearly the faster fighter but he hasn't shown it too much. Molitors workrate is picking up, putting together more combinations. Not a thrilling round but i think Molitor did enough to take it from the often missing Labarda 10-9 Molitor

Round 5: Molitor nails Labarda with a nice check hook which resurrects the crowd. he follows it up with a right, left up stairs. later on Labarda is trying to work Molitor on the ropes and Labarda eats a big left that stuns him for a moment. Molitor is lighting him up now. Labarda on the retreat. He looks a little gun shy to throw with Molitor. Clearly a Molitor round. 10-9 Molitor

Round 6: Molitor looks good but it feels like hes holding back, he could prob do much more damage but hes sitting back instead and playing it safe. Labarda's offense is really nothing at this point. Stiff left from Molitor and moments later an uppercut. This is all Molitor 10-9 Molitor

Round 7: Molitor is teeing off on Labarda about a min into the round. he is not taking full advantage of the situation but he is still hurting Labarda . Nice counter right from Molitor off a Labarda combo. Molitor landing some more good shots after a clash of heads. Labarda complains but the referee ignores. another Molitor round 10-9 Molitor

Round 8: Molitor controlling the action and he hurts Labarda half way through the round but he wont let his hands go and finish him. the crowd is saying it as are the commentators. Molitor round again. Nothing that significant. Its obviously Molitor's fight, he can end this soon if he wants and hopefully he does. 10-9 Molitor

Round 9: Labarda is complaining about more supposed headbutts but the ref waves the fight on. Molitor finally starting to pick the pace up backing Labarda up and forcing him to cover up. Molitor takes a little break but opens up big time near the end of the round and forces Labarda to take a knee. Labarda barely survives the round. 10-9 Molitor

Round 10: It's time to put this guy away, he should have no problem doing so here. Molitor starting slow, but he picks things up and starts landing the right hook at will. Labarda is wobbly and ready to go. ref should think about stepping in. Molitor continues to punish Labarda. ref lets it continue too long but finally steps in and mercifully saves Labarda from more punishment.

My first time seeing Steve Molitor and you can definitely see the talent but i can't help but think he waited too long to pull the trigger and i can't see him being the best guy in a division that houses Israel Vazquez