Anthony Joshua to Defend Heavyweight Title Against Eric Molina

With former undisputed heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko out indefinitely with a calf injury, reigning titleholder Anthony Joshua needs to stay busy and is set to headline a solid boxing card in December at Manchester Arena in Manchester, England.

Joshua, who captured the IBF heavyweight crown by destroying Charles Martin within two rounds back in April, is set to make the second defense of his belt when he steps into the ring against Eric Molina. Joshua (17-0) took out Dominic Breazeale in the seventh back in June, and the 2012 Olympic gold medalist expects to score his 18th pro knockout, though he doesn’t think it will be easy.

“I am pleased that everything is now set for Dec. 10 and I can concentrate on getting the business done in the ring,” said Joshua, who had a possible showdown with Klitschko fall through last week. “There has been plenty of talk about who I may face but all I'm doing is concentrating on finishing Molina in style and putting on a great show.

  “Every fight is dangerous in this division and this is no exception,” Joshua added. “I saw Molina have a great fight with [Deontay] Wilder and he is now coming off a strong KO win against [Tomasz] Adamek in Poland. I'm expecting this to be the toughest fight of my career so far and I will be ready for an all-out war.”

Molina (25-3, 19 KOs) has scored two consecutive knockouts since being stopped by WBC heavyweight boss Wilder last June. After losing to Wilder and Chris Arreola (2012) in the biggest fights of his career, the Texan looked fabulous in dispatching former light heavyweight and cruiserweight world champion Adamek in April, by far the biggest win of his pro ledger. He hopes to continue the upward surge against the unbeaten British phenom (online betting).

 “There is no heavyweight in the world that has bounced back like I have,” said Molina. “That’s the man that Joshua faces on Dec. 10 and that man is a very dangerous one. He’ll fight the toughest Molina that anybody has ever seen, just like Adamek fought the toughest Molina.

  “I’m confident,” Molina continued. “These type of fights don’t shake me up. I’m a very strong mental fighter. I know exactly what I’ve got to do to prepare myself in the amount of time. I know exactly what I’ve got to do, mentally, physically, to go there and perform.”

Also announced for the card, which will air live in America on Showtime, will be a heavyweight co-feature with Dillian Whyte taking on local rival Dereck Chisora; their matchup will be a title eliminator for Wilder’s belt. Scott Quigg will make his eagerly-awaited return to action since his thrilling war with rival Carl Frampton earlier this year while Luis Concepcion will defend his WBA super flyweight title against Kal Yafai.