Omar Figueroa wins debatable decision over John Molina

The scoring was odd but not the fight. Omar Figueroa and John Molina went back and forth for 10 rounds at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, CA. Saturday night. Admittingly, the fight was hard to score. One thing seemed pretty apparent though, the fight was close—at least it seemed that way.

The ringside judges didn’t agree. They had Figueroa winning a wide unanimous decision by scores of 97-93, 98-92, and a head scratching 99-91. The crowd let the judges know they weren’t happy with the decision.

Maxboxing judged the fight 95-95, a draw.

Molina surprised Figueroa by boxing in the opening round. He had employed this strategy a little over two years ago when he defeated Ruslan Provodnikov. He did well, jabbing and letting long right hands go. One landed. Figueroa (30-0-1, 19 KOs) kept switching between orthodox and southpaw. He finally connected with a short punch at the bell ending the round. Molina landed another right in round two, but Figueroa worked well on the inside. Molina connected with a chopping right hook.

Figueroa.29, dug to the body. One of the bodyshots seemed to bother Molina. This time it was Figueroa who connected with a good right at the bell.

In rounds three and four, Molina (30-8, 24 KOs) kept moving and jabbing. Both fighters traded left hooks. An overhand right connected. Figueroa walked after the older Molina. He landed two solid left hands to the jaw. Molina popped Figueroa with shots of his own. Figueroa continued to invest time to the body. He landed a big right that wobbled Molina. He forced Molina into the ropes and let fly. Molina fought back.

On my cart card the fighters had split the first four rounds. Each was finding success, Molina on the outside, Figueroa up close.

Figueroa tagged Molina with a couple of right hands in round five. Molina, from Covina, CA., kept working his jab. Texas native Figueroa ate a hard right to the ear and smiled at Molina. He pushed his way inside, but Molina appeared to have won the round.

Rounds six and seven were more of the same. Figueroa connected with another solid right to the chin. Molina fought back with his own right. He also landed a wicked uppercut. Figueroa caught Molina with three short blows to the face. Molina absorbed the punches and fought back well.

Figueroa tried to pick up the pace. He connected with hard right from Texas. Molina backed into the ropes and punched back. Figueroa went to the body and head. Molina cracked Figueroa with a hard right.

In round eight, Molina went downstairs. Figueroa cracked hooks to the head. Molina took them well. Figueroa worked his way inside and his let his hands go. He might have stolen that round due to his activity in the last thirty seconds of the heat.

Figueroa drove home two right hooks in round nine. He jabbed consistently. Molina whipped home a clean uppercut. Figueroa connected with a sweeping left. Molina rallied at the end of the round.

In the 10th and final round, both fighters landed punches in the first 30 seconds of the round. Figueroa connected with a couple of left hands. He followed Molina who let fly with an inside hook to the gut. Figueroa worked his hands and seemed to edge the round.