John Molina Jr. Outpoints Ruslan Provodnikov in Spirited Showtime Main Event

John Molina Jr. and Ruslan Provodnikov were expected to go to war as both men have been participants in brawls that have won the “Fight of the Year” award. While tonight’s battle likely won’t win that trophy by year’s end, the two junior welterweights slugged it out over 12 rounds, each giving as good he took inside the Turning Stone Casino in Verona, N.Y.

Molina Jr. boxed and moved better than most would have expected and his gameplan befuddled the Russian throughout the Showtime-televised contest. Still, “The Siberian Rocky” was able to land many powerful punches to the head and body, making for dozens of bursts of excitement throughout the battle. Provodnikov was cut around the left eye early in the bout and wound up having his face busted up when it was over, but the exciting brawler never stopped trying to trap his foe into a phone booth war.

Molina seemed to tire slightly in the later rounds after dominating the majority of the middle stages, allowing Provodnikov to creep back into it after falling way behind on the cards. But when the Russian couldn’t take the taller Californian off his feet or end the battle with his trademark typhoon of punches, the points hole he found himself in was too great to overcome.

In the end, Molina’s more intelligent strategy paid off as the former lightweight world title challenger was awarded a hard-fought and well-earned unanimous decision with scores of 116-112, 117-111 and 115-113. Molina improved to 29-6 (23) with the win while Provodnikov, the former WBO junior welterweight titleholder, dipped to 25-5 with 18 KOs.

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Andrade Dominates, Stops Nelson in 12

Unbeaten former WBO junior middleweight champion Demetrius Andrade dominated veteran Willie Nelson from pillar to post in the co-featured bout, eventually stopping “The Great” in the 12th. Andrade floored his foe with a thudding right hook during an exchange in the first and it seemed like the Rhode Island fighter was going to have a short night.

However, Nelson is as tough as nails and climbed back to his fee to not only survive the round, he was able to stay afloat almost until the very end. Andrade was relentless with his mauling style and pressure, relegating the much taller Californian to mostly single punches throughout and winning virtually every minute of every round. The 2008 Olympian’s power eventually proved to be too much as the end came in the championship rounds.

Another laser of a right felled Nelson (25-3-1, 15 KOs) with a few seconds remaining in the 11th but unlike the opening frame, Andrade wouldn’t let his wounded opponent off the hook. A flurry of punches sent Willie to the canvas early in the final frame and when another whirlwind of punches did the same thing moments later, referee Richard Pakozdi had seen enough and halted the drubbing.

The end came officially at 1:38 of the 12th, allowing Andrade (23-0, 16 KOs) to become the number-one contender for Jermell Charlo’s WBC 154-pound title.

Zlaticanin Clobbers Mamani, Wins Lightweight Belt

Dejan Zlaticanin made history in the opening bout of the Showtime telecast by becoming the first person ever from Montenegro to capture a world title in professional boxing. He did so by dominating late replacement Franklin Mamani (21-3-1, 12 KOs) and taking “El Matador” out in the third with a vicious flurry of punches to win the vacant WBC lightweight championship.

A loopy left hook to the top of the head buckled Mamani’s knees almost as soon as the third began and from there, Zlaticanin (18-0, 11 KOs) never relented. He swarmed his wobbly foe with powerful punches from all angles and when a hard left and right connected on Mamani’s jaw, he slumped into the ropes. Referee Charlie Fitch had seen enough at that point and waived it off, officially ending the mugging just 54 seconds into the frame. Mamani, coincidentally, was aiming to become the first fighter from Bolivia to capture a world title.