They’ll talk about his new trainer, Stephane Larouche, who has trained three world champions. And they'll talk about Friday's tune-up bout against Argentina’s Ceferino Labarda that, if successful, will lead to the Mississauga resident’s big break: a unification bout with World Boxing Association champ Celestino Caballero of Colombia on the Showtime network in November.
With the future looking so promising, Molitor, 27-0 with 10 knockouts, will be more than glad to stop talking about the past.
“That’s water under the bridge,” said Molitor, 28, of his turbulent summer that became national news in June when the boxer had left his longtime manager James Jardine and promoter Allan Tremblay of Orion in search of a better deal in the U.S.
It came as a shock considering the popular fighter was getting national exposure on TSN in addition to packing in the 5,000 seat venue at Casino Rama over the course of four title defenses. After talking to some of the sport’s biggest promoters, like Bob Arum of Top Rank and Don King, Molitor realized how good he had it here in Canada, and “The Canadian Kid” decided to continue plying his trade in the Great White North.
“I talked to a lot of big people, and learned a lot about the business, and it was a learning experience,” Molior said. “I learned the grass isn’t always greener on the other side.
“I made a mistake, and (Jardine and Trembley) understand that,” he admitted. “I’m a young man in this game. They welcomed me back with open arms, and it’s never been spoken about again.”
But the temporary rift was not without its price. Orion and Jardine felt that Molitor’s trainer, Chris Johnson of Mississauga boxing gym Chris Johnson’s Fighting Alliance, had influenced their boxer to seek out more lucrative offers. The result was that Johnson, who has trained Molitor since his title-winning bout against England's Michael Hunter two years ago, was let go.
“I didn’t have a problem with anything until these people came and said ‘you should be doing this, you should be getting that,’ and a problem was created for me,” said Molitor. “James and Allan said Chris wasn’t allowed (back), and Chris said he didn’t want to come back.
“I think it hurts more as a friend than as a trainer,” said Molitor of not having Johnson in his camp anymore. “Trainers come and go, but friendships are far and few, you know?"
And the fallout of losing Johnson also meant Molitor no longer gets to spend time with the amateur kids who fought in CJFA’s gym, a group he is close with. Even in the midst of training camps for his title fights, Molitor often shows up at club to cheer them on.
“Some of them still call me,” Molitor said. “I talk to them on Facebook (a social networking website). I tell them to keep training hard, but I’m still going to be there cheering for them if I’m ever around.
“I just wish them all the best, and I want them to keep training hard and to pursue their dreams and keep at it.”
Tickets for Friday's fight are available through Casino Rama and Ticketmaster. The bout will be televised live on TSN starting at 10:30 p.m.
onlinenews@mississauga.net
