Bring on Molina vs. Lara II

The winner would be the #2 junior middleweight behind Cotto, IMO.

Based on their showings tonight (Molina winning a wide and well-earned decision over Kermit Cintron; Lara earning a wide decision over Paul Williams but getting absolutely robbed blind) - who do you see winning? :bbb

 

Well...neither. :yep

I don't think Molina can outbox him, or win the breath-on-your-neck battle of body hooks that would be inevitable. Molina's got a wonderful hook to the body...but it's ****ing Cotto we're talking about here.

As for Lara, stylistically he poses more problems to Cotto (although I give Molina a very good chance against him in the rematch; S.M.F. after all :deal) but I just don't think he'll be able to match Cotto's intensity over long stretches. Williams' nonstop three minutes' effort and hundred slaps a round had Lara looking a bit put-upon despite his dominance with fluid movement setting up the right hook and cannonball left. Cotto doesn't throw as much but he is positively relentless, and I'm not sure Lara would respond to that very well. Besides, Cotto's defense (particularly his head movement) is light years beyond Williams'. Lara would hit him some, but not with left after left after left after left after left.

Strangely enough, I could actually see Junito having to get off the canvas against both even though neither carries dynamite. It would be more about sweet shots on the sweet spot, and both have good powers of location if not powers of...well, power. The question is, is either heavy-handed enough to consistently keep Cotto's respect and limit his body attack? My gut feeling is no.

 

Hmm. :think Maybe.

You think Steward's taint is that bad? Like Teddy Atlas' oops-I-just-stuck-my-wrinkly-****-in-your-career-and-gave-it-AIDS bad?

 

I just had an idea.


Package this with Williams-Cintron II as the co-feature!!

(the recent victims of both Lara and Molina, whatever the records may show).

Loser retires.

Seriously. The loser would be on an 0-3 skid (Cintron officially, Williams unofficially). Both have looked like crap for a while. Williams has already been talking about just retiring and enjoying his money, even before Lara kicked his ass. Cintron isn't going to suddenly in his thirties start being able to cope well with pressure. If you consistently crumble under pressure, you're going to consistently fail at the elite level in boxing. A second loss to Williams, putting him at three losses in a row would basically spell the end for him. There would just be no point in starting from scratch and working his way back up. The Williams rematch would be win-or-go-home.

 

What was your final score?

 

:good

Williams and Cintron have unfinished business. That TD was one of the least satisfying conclusions in years. One of them was getting KTFO before the night was through. Even thought both look to have lost a step in speed, focus and sharpness I'd still like to see them settle things (and still think it would probably end in a KO, as both proved more than capable of hurting each other in their brief encounter).

Likewise Molina and Lara need to squash their beef, both to produce a clear winner and close that chapter (or open up a trilogy or longer) and for the benefit of the division. I really do think they and Cotto make up the top three at the weight, as clearly as Bradley/Khan/Matthysse are the best at 140. Canelo is still a ways off from that level.

These are the necessary rematches. Molina-Cintron II or Lara-Williams II would be wastes of time and just redundant domination.