By Ben Jacobs

‘King’ Carlos Molina (28-8-2, 8 KOs) is finalising preparations for his March 31 clash with talented Englishman Josh Kelly (5-0, 4 KOs). 

The fight which will take place on the undercard of Anthony Joshua’s heavyweight unification showdown against Joseph Parker in Cardiff, will provide Molina with an opportunity to return to the limelight in a career in which he has faced names such as Julio César Chávez Jr (twice), Erislandy Lara and James Kirkland.

The former International Boxing Federation [IBF] champion is now based back in Mexico due to legal difficulties which prevent him from being in the United States currently. 

A boxing free agent, Molina, who will fly to the United Kingdom this Saturday, hopes that the Kelly clash will bring more opportunities.

“We ended a contact with Warriors Boxing as of last year in November - so I don’t have a promoter,” he explained to krikya360.com via telephone. 

“I’m going to have all three of my trainers with me for this fight that I have had in my career.  My trainer from Wisconsin, where I started, my trainer from Chicago and Armando Rayón, my current trainer from Mexico City.  So that’s three guys who are all capable of being the head trainers.  The experience and the chemistry that we’ve had will mean we will all be together for this fight.”

Molina offered his opinion on one of the major topics dominating boxing headlines at the moment which is the Saúl ‘Canelo’ Álvarez meat contamination issue after he tested positive for traces of clenbuterol.  Molina is of the belief that an athlete has to be responsible for what they consume.

“They talk about the meat here in Mexico but it’s a good excuse,” Carlos said, speaking from Michoacán.

“What are they doing in their free time?  Like after the first fight?  They take off and they can do whatever they want.  We don’t know.  They do say it’s in the meat here so I’m being careful with the meat.  I’m just sticking to chicken!   

“The only way to change it in the future is to do random drug testing all year, not just when there’s a fight.  If it’s random people will be worried about getting caught.  At the moment it’s easy for them to stop taking if they know when the testing period is.” 

In terms of the rematch itself, Molina is unsure which way it will go having felt the first encounter could have gone either way.

“I think the first fight was so close.  I don’t know yet who I’m pulling for.  I saw GGG missing a lot even though Canelo wasn’t moving his legs that much.  I don’t know why he (Golovkin) wasn’t going to the body more.  I need to get my pen and paper out and watch the first fight again.”