Late replacement Molina beats Perez

MIAMI (AP)—Carlos Molina, a late replacement for former welterweight champ Carlos Quintana, won a lopsided unanimous decision over Danny Perez on Friday night.

Molina was the aggressor from the opening round of the 154-pound bout at Mahi Temple Auditorium. Effectively cutting distance, Molina pressured Perez and scored with combinations to the body and left hooks to the head.

Two judges scored the fight 119-109 for Molina, and the third also had the Mexican winning 118-110. There were no knockdowns.

Molina won his ninth consecutive bout and the minor NABO title.

In the third round, Molina took advantage of a shorter range and connected with a three-punch combination to the head. Later in the round, Molina (16-4-1) caught Perez with a right to the body and followed with a right uppercut.

Perez, of El Cajon, Calif., picked up the pace in the fifth and scored with a lead left jab and rights to the body. But Molina remained busier, landing short combinations to the head.

In the eighth round, Perez (34-6) scored some of his best shots of the bout as he landed rights to the head and a left uppercut. Molina quickly recovered and again pressured Perez, pinning to the ropes and landing short combinations to the head and body.

Molina never allowed Perez to turn the fight in his favor and continued pressuring Perez. Molina solidified his victory when he landed two solid straight rights to the head followed by a right uppercut in the 11th round.

The loss snapped Perez’s three-fight winning streak since resuming his career in 2008 after a three-year absence.