Molina Pulls Out Of EBU Title Fight Despite Home Advantage

By Per-Åke Persson

As previously reported by Fightnews, Spanish Heredia Promotions won the purse bid for the fight for the vacant EBU welterweight title between their fighter Samuel Molina (32-4-1) and Belgian Anes Messaoudi (17-0-1).

The date and site were to be announced, but today Espabox writes that Molina has pulled out of the fight, apparently as a protest toward the EBU.

Molina’s problems stem back to his fight against Egidijus Kavaliauskas in Lithuania, where the Spaniard lost a split decision and felt robbed. The protest made by Team Molina was rejected, even though the EBU ordered a rematch but gave Kavaliauskas time to make a voluntary defense before facing Molina again.

Egidijus Kavaliauskas then relinquished the title and Anes Messaoudi became co-challenger along with Molina, who is now out.

With Molina gone, Messaoudi has another Spaniard as co-challenger in Aaron Alhambra (18-2), who won the EBU Silver title in his last fight—a title he has now relinquished. Messaoudi vs. Alhambra has March 24 as the deadline for purse bids.

As for Samuel Molina, ranked number 13 by the WBC, he will look for other options.

The post Molina Pulls Out Of EBU Title Fight Despite Home Advantage appeared first on Fight News.