CORPUS CHRISTI -- After a month of intense training and preparation, Lyford native Eric Molina came into Saturday night’s 12-round Heavyweight bout confident that he would defeat the WBC’s number one ranked contender Chris Arreola.

Arreola (35-2, 30 KO’s), who in the past has had a reputation for coming into fights out of shape and unprepared, looked to be in fit fighting shape as he stepped into the ring with WBC USNBC Heavyweight champion and number ten ranked contender Eric Molina (18-2, 14 KO’s). 

“There was a period in my career that I didn’t train the way I should have, I ate whatever I wanted; and I disrespected the sport,” said Arreola.  “Now I’m focused.”

The anticipation was high for this fight because a win for either fighter means a title shot against the undisputed World Heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko.  The anticipation came to an end early with Arreola knocking out Molina at the 2:30 mark in the first round and picking up the knockout victory. 

“I said before the fight that if I had Arreola hurt, I’d come right at him and I did just that,” said Molina.  Both fighters came out throwing heavy punches and a right hand by Molina definitely got Arreola to pay attention. “He came out swinging and we expected that,” said Arreola.  “Once I got hit with his right hand, I said it’s time to go to work.”

Arreola did go to work as he landed a right cross that sent Molina to the canvas.  He was unable to get up and the fight was stopped.

“I was focused until I hurt him and then my emotions took over,” said Molina.  “It’s the Heavyweight division, one punch can change everything.”

Former world champion and sparring partner Oliver McCall said that he and Molina will head back and figure what went wrong and try to fix it.

“We have some things to work on,” said McCall.  “Eric hurt him, but he got careless and he got caught.”

Arreola’s experience seemed to be the factor in the fight. Years of fighting and building his record has enabled him to see things most fighters over look.

“I knew the fight was over before it started,” said Arreola.  “He never wanted to look me in the eye, I knew he had insecurities.”

Insecurities or not, Molina agrees that Arreola’s years in the sport gave him the advantage.

“Had I stayed poised and had some more experience,   I know things would have been different,” said Molina.

With this win Arreola is guaranteed a title shot against Wladimir Klitchko.

“I’m hoping, I’m not expecting,” said Arreola. “This win just puts me one step closer to where I want to go.”

With a loss added to Molina’s career, this gives him motivation to keep on going.

“I have no regrets, I’m proud of my team and how far we have come,” said Molina.  “I can’t go out like this, I beat myself.”

Also on the card fighting from the Valley was Hector Garza of Brownsville going up against Gregory Gutierrez from Robstown.  Garza (3-5, 2 KO’s), who was coming off a 3-straight losing streak, stood toe- to-toe with Guiterrez (5-1, 2KO’s) in this Lightweight bout throughout the majority of the fight.

Though Garza fought extremely cautious, he caught Gutierrez with several punches that got his attention throughout the fight.  In the 4^th round Gutierrez was clearly dominating the action and stunned Garza with several punch combinations. Garza lost the fight to Gutierrez in a 4 round unanimous decision.

In other action, Thomas Williams Jr. won a 4-round unanimous decision over Kentrell Claiborne.

Julian Barboza defeated Arturo Lopez in the 2^nd round when the fight was stopped by the referee.

Justin Williams upset Alfonso Lopez by 6-round unanimous decision.

Malik Scott won a 6-round unanimous decision over Kendrick Releford.

Tavoris Cloud retained his WBC Light Heavyweight title over Gabriel Campillo in a 12-round split decision.

Paul Williams won the WBC Super Welterweight Silver International title by defeating Nobuhiro Ishida by 12-round unanimous decision.