Molina appreciates week of training at Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles

Cruiserweight state champion Eric Molina (11-1, 10 knockouts) of Lyford spent the past week in Los Angeles working out at Wild Card Gym under the guidance of legendary trainer Freddie Roach and his associates in preparation for the next stage of his boxing career.

Molina, who returned to the Rio Grande Valley on Sunday, hopes to fight for a more prestigious title in September, and training with Roach is part of the plan to get him get ready for what's ahead.

The 6-foot-5, 200-pound Molina said Wild Card Gym is a gym of high-level expectations. Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines is just one of the champions who trains there under the highly respected Roach.

"As soon as you walk through the door, you feel a different atmosphere," said Molina, a 2000 Lyford graduate who has a semester or so to go before graduating from the University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College. "It's a tough gym. You see world champions at every level and weight class working out there.

"Just being there gives you an idea of what you're training for when you've got a fight (coming up)," he added.

Molina worked out and sparred under the direction of Roach, his brother "Pepper" and several other trainers.

"They showed me some new techniques that we don't do back home," Molina said. "These guys work very hard. They told me, ‘Try this or work on this,' so they gave me some things to take back home. It was a learning experience.

"It was a very beneficial move for me to come out to Wild Card Gym," he added.

Valley promoter Anthony Cavazos was equally impressed.

"It was an honor and privilege to be there with Freddie Roach, the No. 1 trainer in the world," Cavazos said. "Eric really learned a lot, and we had a blast. There were fighters from all over the world there, even Japan. It was just a great experience."

The Lyford fighter captured his 11th straight victory by stopping an overmatched Clinton Bonds (5-15, three KOs) of Fort Smith, Ark., on a technical knockout at the 2:38 mark of the first round in the co-main event of the Fists of Fury show June 19 at Dodge Arena in Hidalgo. The quick stoppage brought roars of approval from the announced crowd of 4,200.

"I wanted to come out, knock him down and knock his head off," Molina said. "I know that's what all these people came out to see, and I just hope I gave them a good show."

UPCOMING

A "Sprawl and Brawl" mixed martial arts show originally scheduled July 17 at Winks Saloon Grill and Roping Arena near Olmito is on hold for the moment, a Winks employee said Monday. No future date for the event has been set, she said.

The Julio Marines boxing show originally planned for July 25 at Brownsville Sports Park has been moved to the tentative date of Aug. 15. The event is still expected to take place at the sports park. Among the fighters expected to appear on the card are bantamweight Sergio "Time To Shine" Perales (10-0, five KOs) of Brownsville, welterweight Gilbert Guevara (7-4-1, two KOs) of Brownsville and light middleweight Raul "El Tigre" Casarez (14-2, seven KOs) of Edinburg.

Roy Hess writes for Valley Freedom Newspapers.