Anthony Joshua has confirmed he will defend his title against Eric Molina on Saturday 10th December in Manchester.
Joshua, who is the IBF world heavyweight champion, will face the American after a proposed bout with Wladimir Klitschko fell through.
Manchester, are you ready? #AJBoxing 💥💥 pic.twitter.com/018EmypiqR
— Anthony Joshua (@anthonyjoshua) November 1, 2016
The new match is not without controversy however, as many boxing fans and commentators have called Molina an easy opponent.
Molina, aged 34, boasts a fight record of 28-3 (with 25 knockouts). He lost his only previous world title shot against WBC world champion Deontay Wilder in 2015.
Anthony Joshua is fighting Eric Molina, a guy Wilder and Arreola have already KO'd. Pitiful matchmaking. What a letdown.
— Nigel Collins (@NigelBoxing) November 1, 2016
Anthony Joshua vs Eric Molina on box office 🙈😴💤 Whyte vs Chisora more of an appealing fight
— Peter Swift (@PeterSwift95) November 1, 2016
Current betting odds place Joshua at 1/10 for KO victory over Molina.
Betway’s Alan Alger said of the bout: “We’re taking no risks with this one! Anthony Joshua is the biggest thing in boxing at the moment and we think he’ll put away Eric Molina with ease.
“AJ goes into the fight as close to a dead cert as you can get at 1/33 and is 1/10 to win by knockout. Any Molina fans can back the 34-year-old at 10/1.”
Despite talk of the match outcome being a formality, Anthony Joshua assured fans he will be taking the bout with Molina seriously.
“I am pleased that everything is now set for December 10th and I can concentrate on getting the business done in the ring,” he said.
“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. I saw Molina have a great fight with Wilder and he is now coming off a strong KO win against 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.”
Eric Molina during a eight round TKO victory against Raphael Zumbano in January 2015. (Photo by Steve Marcus/Getty Images)
Elsewhere on the December 10th match card, Dillian Whyte will defend his British heavyweight title against Dereck Chisora in an official eliminator for the WBC title.
Super-bantamweight Scott Quigg will also make his return to fight an as yet unnamed opponent.
Ireland’s London 2012 gold medallist Katie Taylor will also contest her second professional bout at the event.
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