Steve Molitor Back in Title Contention

“Canadian Kid” Edges Heriberto Ruiz to Earn IBF #2 Ranking

RAMA, ON (Friday, June 26, 2009) – Former IBF Junior Featherweight World Champion, “The Canadian Kid” Steve Molitor (29-1, 11 KO’s) thrust himself back into world title contention with a hard fought 12 round split decision over hardscrabble veteran Heriberto Ruiz (41-8-2, 23 KO’s) in an IBF eliminator Friday night at Casino Rama, in Rama, Ontario. 

Molitor fought through a nasty cut suffered above his hair line over his left eye in the seventh round, out gutting Ruiz down the stretch to come away with the 116-112, 116-112, 112-116 split decision nod, and the IBF’s number-two rating. “The Canadian Kid” is now guaranteed, at the very least, a spot in a title eliminator against the winner of the yet-to-be-scheduled encounter between top ten contenders Kiko Martinez and Takalani Ndlovu. 

Despite Molitor’s gritty triumph in his first fight since being humiliated in four rounds by Celestino Caballero last November, the former champion felt there was plenty of room for improvement. 

“That was an ugly fight,” a bloodied Molitor said after getting the official nod Friday night. “He never engaged with me, and he was very awkward, so I never really got a chance to put on a great show for the fans here, but I battled through a lot to get the win, and I’m on my way to getting my title back.”

According to Molitor’s promoter, Allan Tremblay, his charge might get a chance to reclaim his title sooner as opposed to later. 

“It’s pretty much a foregone conclusion that Caballero will move up and vacate his IBF belt,” Tremblay said.  

“If he does that, and if another mandatory challenger can be determined in the near future, we’d like to have that title fight in Rama on September 4.”