Former IBF Super Bantamweight Champion Steve Molitor: Boxing Grudge Match Brewing

Exclusive Interview by Marc Anthony

“He is saying he wants to be a world class featherweight? Well, step up and prove it.” – Steve Molitor

The Canadian boxing scene is starting to heat up and Steve Molitor, 34-2, 12 KO’s, is on the list of stars to look out for. He has made all the necessary sacrifices to become a world champion: moving out of Ontario and going to Toronto with just a bag full of clothes and no money, living in a tiny room inside the boxing gym and dedicating his life to just the boxing game to hone his craft. All of these sacrifices have paid off with the money, the skill and a deal with Top Rank (one of the premier boxing promoters).

Being one of the top boxers in the light featherweight division not only garners the recognition but you become a large target for hungry fighters looking to make a name for themselves. One of note is Quebec’s very own, Sebastien Gauthier, whom Steve recently beat on November 5th of 2011. The “heat” is Sebastien wants a rematch and Steve is happy to oblige.

Steve sits with RSR to talk about the drama between him and Sebastien and the current state of Canadian Boxing.

MA: I read that after your fights you go on a two week break and eat McDonalds 3x a day with Wendy’s as a nighttime meal. Are you still doing that?

I have three kids now. I have a lot of eyes around me in the house. I can’t be sitting down and eating that shitty food.

MA: Fellow countrymen Bute could be up for a possible super matchup for Andre Ward…

Andre Ward is going be a tough challenge…that’s a pick-em fight. I am obviously going for my good friend Lucian Bute. That’s a hard fight, Andre Ward is a sharp shooter, he is a good counter puncher and he is a nice boxer. That would definitely be for the best super middleweight fighter if those two fought.

MA: Would you want any of your children to become pro boxers?

I don’t know, it’s a tough road, especially here in Canada. Boxing just started to get a surge and has become mainstream here. It’s a tough life. I think if they want to do it, no problem, but I definitely want them to have something for them to fall back on. I have my high school education but I didn’t go college or a university. I had no choice to but to make it in this sport and make lots of money. My kids can go that road but I want them to have a better education than I did to fall back on.

MA: Your favorite tattoo and the most expensive one?

My favorite one is of my last name. I got that at the start of getting all my tattoos. To be honest, I haven’t really paid for any of my tattoos. I have friends that own tattoo shops so they say “come in to our shop, tell people that we tattoo you and don’t worry it’s on the house.”

MA: Have you had a moment where you won your fight but it was a bitter sweet moment?

It’s really hard to say that it is a bitter sweet moment when you win a fight but… I can say that when I won my first world title it was so amazing to finally accomplish my dream, but yet, it was inside foreign territory and people there didn’t like the fact that I won. I couldn’t celebrate it or enjoy it as much as we wanted to. But you are thankful every time you win and thankful to God that we are healthy, OK, and came out victorious. It’s kind of hard to be a bitter sweet situation. But if anyone, that would be that one.

MA: Treadmill vs. road work…will it condition you the same in your opinion?

Some athletes, they have their personal trainers have them climb on the treadmill and go at a faster pace. Personally, I don’t like the treadmill. I never use them unless I absolutely have to, like if I am in hotel and I have no choice. I prefer to do road work out on an actual road. If you really look at it realistically, all you have to do is put your feet down and the machine kind of does the work for you

MA: How important is it to have chemistry with your trainer?

It’s very important, that’s who you are going to war with. That’s your underboss to you when you go to war. You have to be on the same level and have good chemistry. Have a certain bond to make it to the top level.

MA: You recently won your last fight are there any plans or just relaxing?

I am back in the gym already. I like to stay in shape. I like to stay in the gym constantly. I am hoping to get a rematch with Sebastien Gauthier. He was so unhappy with the last decision. He was ranting and raving. He has the opportunity to come to my home town on February 11th in Mississauga if he really wants to prove himself.

MA: Heard about that he was unhappy and you called him out. That would be a great grudge match with a history behind it.

Yes, I am big name in Canada and I haven’t fought in my hometown in so many years. He is saying he wants to be a world class featherweight? Well, step up and prove it. You can’t be a chicken shit and fight in your hometown and bring in guys you know that you can beat. Go out in the road and take some chances. I won my first world title on the road. I defended my world title on the road. Taking risks and fighting on foreign territory and putting your back to the wall, that’s what makes great fighters.

Steve Molitor
Nickname: “The Canadian Kid”
Division: Super Bantamweight
Professional Record: 34-2-0, 12 KO’s
2011-11-05 Sebastien Gauthier 21-2-0 Quebec City, CA W SD 10
2011-03-26 Takalani Ndlovu 31-6-0 Johannesburg, ZA L UD 12
IBF Super Bantamweight Title

2010-09-11 Jason Booth 35-5-0 Houghton-le-Spring, UK W MD 12
IBF Super Bantamweight Title
2010-03-27 Takalani Ndlovu 30-5-0 Rama, CA W UD 12
vacant IBF Super Bantamweight Title

2009-11-21 Jose Saez 17-8-4 Rama, CA W UD 8
2009-09-04 Feliciano Dario Azuaga Le 76-16-2 Rama, CA W KO 5
2009-06-26 Heriberto Ruiz 41-7-2 Rama, CA W SD 12

2008-11-21 Celestino Caballero 30-2-0 Rama, CA L TKO 4
IBF Super Bantamweight Title
WBA Super World Super Bantamweight Title
2008-08-29 Ceferino Dario Labarda 18-0-0 Rama, CA W TKO 10
IBF Super Bantamweight Title
2008-04-05 Fernando Beltran Jr 30-2-1 Rama, CA W UD 12
IBF Super Bantamweight Title
2008-01-19 Ricardo Castillo 34-4-0 Rama, CA W UD 12
IBF Super Bantamweight Title

2007-10-27 Fahsan 3K Battery 56-8-1 Rama, CA W UD 12
IBF Super Bantamweight Title
2007-07-14 Takalani Ndlovu 27-3-0 Rama, CA W TKO 9
IBF Super Bantamweight Title

2006-11-10 Michael Hunter 26-0-1 Hartlepool, UK W KO 5
vacant IBF Super Bantamweight Title

2005-10-21 Jorge Antonio Paredes 19-9-3 Toronto, CA W TKO 3
2005-08-19 Debind Thapa 20-3-1 Whippany, US W TKO 8
2005-02-18 Henry Arjona 15-5-1 Toronto, CA W UD 8

2004-06-25 Pedro Javier Torres 37-19-9 Sarnia, CA W UD 10
2004-04-21 Hugo Dianzo 29-10-1 Toronto, CA W UD 12
vacant NABA Bantamweight Title
2004-01-16 John Mackay 7-3-0 Bradford, UK W PTS 8

2003-09-17 Fausto Rosario 11-8-0 London, CA W TKO 10
2003-04-25 Julio Coronel 21-18-1 Albuquerque, US W UD 10
2003-03-07 Vicente Luis Burgo 16-15-4 Niagara Falls, CA W TKO 4

2002-09-21 Nicky Booth 15-3-1 Brentwood, UK W PTS 12
Commonwealth (British Empire) Bantamweight Title
2002-06-21 Jose de Jesus Lopez 18-4-0 Mississauga, CA W UD 10
World Boxing Federation Bantamweight Title

2002-04-10 Teofilo Manzueta 13-4-1 Toronto, CA W KO 3
vacant World Boxing Federation Bantamweight Title
2002-02-15 Scotty Olson 34-3-2 Edmonton, CA W TKO 5
Canada Super Bantamweight Title

2001-04-04 Silvio Luzon 12-6-0 Toronto, CA W UD 12
2001-01-19 Shane Langford 0-1-0 Toronto, CA W UD 4

2000-12-15 Steve Trumble 9-9-0 Montreal, CA W UD 6
2000-11-03 Jason Adams 1-0-1 Montreal, CA W UD 4
2000-09-28 Shane Langford 0-0-0 Winnipeg, CA W UD 6
2000-09-08 Joel Lopez 1-1-0 Montreal, CA W UD 4
2000-08-16 Thierry Naulleau 0-0-0 Montreal, CA W TKO 2
2000-07-29 Mark McQueen 1-0-0 Detroit, US W TKO 3
2000-05-18 Julio Luna 15-12-2 Winnipeg, CA W UD 8