Molina dethrones Smith for IBF crown
Carlos Molina, left, poses for photos with referee Jay Nady after defeating Ishe Smith in an IBF junior middleweight title fight, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2013, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Eric Jamison)
LAS VEGAS— Carlos Molina won the International Boxing Federation’s junior middleweight title with a split-decision victory over Ishe Smith at the MGM Grand Hotel on Saturday.
The 30-year-old Molina captured his first major world title after a 12-year boxing career. The Mexican has now won five of his last six fights, with his record improving to 22-5-2 with six knockouts.
Article continues after this advertisementAmerican Smith, who beat Cornelius Bundrage in February for the title, fell to 25-6.
They fought on the undercard of the Floyd Mayweather and Saul Alvarez 12-round world title fight for Alvarez’s World Boxing Council and World Boxing Association super welterweight belts.
