Joshua to fight Molina in 2nd defense of heavyweight title

FILE – This is a Saturday, April 9, 2016 file photo of British boxer Anthony Joshua as he celebrates after winning the IBF heavyweight title bout against US boxer Charles Martinat the O2 Arena in London. Joshua will make the second defense of his IBF world heavyweight title in a fight against American boxer Eric Molina on Dec. 10. Joshua’s promoters announced the fight on Tuesday Nov. 1, 2016. AP

MANCHESTER, England — Anthony Joshua will make the second defense of his IBF world heavyweight title in a fight against American challenger Eric Molina on Dec. 10.

Joshua’s promoters announced the fight on Tuesday. It will take place at the Manchester Arena in northern England, a rare fight outside London for the unbeaten British boxer.

It is the 34-year-old Molina’s second world title fight, after losing to compatriot Deontay Wilder for the WBC belt in June last year. Molina beat Tomasz Adamek in the 10th round of their fight for the IBF inter-continental belt in April.

Joshua, whose 17 straight professional wins have all come inside the distance, won the world title by knocking out Charles Martin in the second round at London’s O2 Arena in April. He successfully defended the IBF belt with a seventh-round win over Dominic Breazeale, also in London.

Joshua had hoped to fight former world champion Wladimir Klitschko in December, but the bout was postponed after the Ukrainian picked up an injury.