Steve (The Canadian Kid) Molitor isn't afraid of anybody. "I'm willing and ready to fight anybody," he said. "I'm a force to be reckoned with."
Molitor proved as much when he stopped Takalani (The Panther) Ndlovu by TKO in the ninth round in the first defence of his International Boxing Federation junior featherweight championship Saturday night.
Molitor, from Sarnia, Ont., and now a resident of Mississauga, Ont., was slightly ahead on points before pounding the South African into submission in the ninth with his explosive power.
Molitor improved to 24-0 and Ndlovu slipped to 27-4. There were shouts of encouragement and advice for the 27-year-old champion, a 120-pound bundle of energy, throughout the bout.
Molitor felled Ndlovu with a left to the head 30 seconds into the ninth round. He put him down again with a right and referee Hubert Earl of Halifax gave Ndlovu a standing count. Molitor then delivered the finishing touch, hammering the South African with a solid right to the jaw to send him down for the final time with 1:14 remaining in the round.
The only round in which Ndlovu had a slight edge was the fifth. He wasn't going to take away Molitor's title without a more aggressive attack, but Molitor wouldn't allow it. The champion blocked or deked away from the majority of the challenger's punches in a deft display of boxing skills.
Molitor took the title away from Michael Hunter in England in his last fight so was thrilled to be fighting again back in his home country in front of a full house.