John Molina in a crucial fight on June 7 against Russian Andrey Klimov

Unfortunately for John Molina of Covina, he fights in a boxing world today where, unless you are an established star, you better not lose more than a fight or two, or you’ll have a hard time getting there.

Take the networks. Molina had just gotten on HBO for the first time, then got stopped in the first round in a challenge to lightweight champion Antonio DeMarco in September 2012 at Oracle Arena in Oakland. It was a big stage, as it was on the undercard of the Andre Ward-Chad Dawson super middleweight title fight.

Molina came back with an impressive fourth-round knockout of Dannie Williams in January at Pueblo Pavilion in Santa Fe, N.M. That was televised by ESPN2. And a week from Friday – on June 7 – Molina (25-2, 20 KOs) will be squaring off with Andrey Klimov (15-0, 8 KOs) of Russia in Shelton, Wash. (on ESPN2).

A good showing could get Molina back on HBO, and in the limelight. One thing’s for sure, Molina has enough power to take out any opponent with one punch, as his 74 percent knockout ratio attests. That helps keep him attractive to the networks.

Molina is 30. Klimov, also 30, is 15-0 with eight knockouts.

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