Wilder’s first defense expected to be “a walk in the park”

The Deontay “The Bronze Bomber” Wilder (33-0, 32 KOs) versus Eric “Drummer Boy” Molina (23-2, 17 KOs), 12-round Heavyweight Title fight for Wilder’s WBC Heavyweight Championship is set to take place Saturday, June 13, 2015

at The Bartow Arena in Birmingham, Alabama. DiBella Entertainment, the Bruno Event Team and Golden Boy Promotions have joined forces to bring this event to the great state of Alabama.

(l to r) Jose Pedraza, Andrey Klimov. Photos courtesy of Stephanie Trapp/Showtime Boxing

In the co-main event, co-promoted by DiBella in association with Universal Promotions, they have Jose Pedraza (19-0, 12 KOs) facing Andrey Klimov (19-1, 9 KOs) in a 12-round bout for the IBF Junior Lightweight Title. The show is scheduled to air live on Showtime (9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT) and the telecast will also be available in Spanish by way of SAP (secondary audio programming). 

Preliminary bouts will be televised live on Showtime Extreme (7 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast).  

Friday’s weigh-ins will be at the Birmingham City Hall and hosted by Showtime’s own Mauro Ranallo.

The irrepressible 29 year-old, 6’7″ tall Deontay Leshun Wilder (33-0, 32 KOs) from Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Photos courtesy of Stephanie Trapp/Showtime Boxing

Latest quotes from Mr. Wilder: “This week has been fun. It’s been exciting. Even to see the people and faces. I’m looking forward to Saturday. It’s always the hard part when you have to wait. Especially when you’ve been training hard and it’s real intense. I’m looking forward to making history being that this is the first title fight in the state of Alabama. And I’m gonna put my name on it first.

“Training camp has been just like any other camp. When I’m at camp, I’m always giving my all, 110 percent. Because when it’s time to go battle, I gotta give 110 percent. I have to perform better than I did the last time. This is what I do. I love it and enjoy every moment of it.  

“Molina’s height is something to watch out for. Everybody likes two tall guys in the ring. I’m definitely going to find out if his bark is as big as his bite. Right now his bark is loud. But we’ll see if his bite is as loud as his bark.  

“I don’t watch video or study my opponents because the way you may see them fight someone else is not the same way they’re going to fight you. I let my people do that and break them down. I believe in them, and I like the challenge as well. That’s another reason I don’t look at film. We’ll find out what he’s about on Saturday.”

It was something new for the 33 year-old, 6’4″ tall Eric Molina (23-2, 17 KOs) from Raymondville, Texas – all these members of the Press bugging him for an interview. Photos courtesy of Stephanie Trapp/Showtime Boxing

Eric Molina’s response: “Deontay is a very strong fighter, a big puncher, a big presence. But just as many strengths as he has, he also has weaknesses. We’re just trying to key in on those weaknesses.  

“I know this is a big fight for Alabama. I respect that and it’s an honor, but I’m also trying to make history. I plan on being the first Mexican-American Heavyweight World Champion. My mental focus is on the heavyweight world title. When you expect to fight for the world title, you have to come into someone’s backyard and do what you have to, and put up with that pressure. I can handle pressure.  

“I’ve accepted my role as the underdog. The whole world may have written me off, but I have embraced the role. I’m used to motivating myself. I’ve never been stronger, more focused. I’ve never been more physically, mentally, spiritually fit. I’m ready to go. This is two big guys in the ring, and I can punch just like he can punch. It’s going to be a very exciting fight.”  

Co-main event: Jose “The Sniper” Pedraza vs Andrey Klimov   

“This was a long, hard training camp. We began training in December. We have worked extremely hard and are ready to show the world on Saturday night.  

We have seen video of Klimov and know what to expect. We will take it round by round and break him down.  

“We can box, or we can bang. Whatever Klimov brings to the table we’ll be ready. I plan on using my boxing technique to control the pace, but if he wants to stand there and go toe-to-toe, we are fine with that as well.  

It’s important for me to look better than Crawford did in his victory over Klimov. I want to show the world that I am one of the best fighters in the sport.”

Andrey Klimov   

“This was a great camp. We worked very hard, and trained with many different champions. I came out 100 percent mentally and physically ready to go. I feel the fight with Crawford actually worked to my advantage more than my disadvantage. I learned a lot in that fight and will use that on Saturday night against Pedraza. Whatever Pedraza brings to the table, I will be ready. There will be no surprises on Saturday night, I am ready. I am very confident going into this fight.

“Pedraza is a tough opponent but I don’t think he is ready for what I am going to bring. It’s an honor to be here and fighting at this level. On Saturday night you will see a spectacular performance.”

(l to r) Ivan Redkach, Dejan Zlaticanin

Ivan “El Terrible” Redkach (18-0, 14 KOs) versus Dejan Zlaticanin (20-0, 13 KOs). 

“This was the hardest training camp I’ve ever had,” said Redkach. I’ve been training for four, hard months for this fight and I’m in the best shape of my career. This fight brings me one step closer to a world title shot.”  

“We had great sparring for this camp,” said Zlaticanin. “It’s helped me become the absolute best, possible fighter that I can be going into Saturday night. I have no doubt, no fear, I am the better, more superior fighter.   

This fight will not go to the final bell. I am going to knock Redkach out. There is no doubt in my mind.  

The winner of this bout earns the shot to fight Jorge Linares for the world title, and that is exactly the fight I want. On Saturday night I will stop Redkach and earn the right to challenge for the world title. It is very important for me to bring this victory back to Montenegro to all my fans and countrymen who will be cheering me on.”

The Juan Ubaldo Cabrera (22-0, 15 KOs) match against Timothy Hall Jr. (9-20) might not be as entertaining. Hall, a 34 year-old middleweight, has only five wins in his last 24 bouts. His opponent, Cabrera, a super middleweight, is 36 years-old and a two-time Olympian from Santo Domingo. Last year Cabrera defeated San Diego tough guy Lester “El Cubanito” Gonzalez.

Not to poke fun, but the boxers coming in from Monroe, Louisiana sure look familiar … like two lambs being led to slaughter. The 5’6” Mikel “The Cat” Williams (8-30) has now lost 12 straight matches and in his 30 losses he’s failed to go the distance 17 times. His older brother, Anthony Greeley (8-44), a heavyweight, has only won once in his last 27 matches, going all the way back to August, 2005. Check out the following YouTube videos and you’ll get a better read on Mr. Williams, the polite TV commentator plus the addition of a championship belt?

The complete fight card:

4 Rounds – Heavyweights (201+ pounds)

Keith Thompson (Tuscaloosa, Alabama, 7-3, 4 KOs) vs. Anthony Greeley (Monroe, La., 8-44-3, 1 KO)

6 Rounds – Super Middleweights (168 pounds)

Keandre Leatherwood (Birmingham, 14-3-1, 10 KOs) vs. Taronze Washington (Dallas, Texas, 17-19, 7 KOs)

6 Rounds – Super Middleweights

Kenneth McNeil (Birmingham, 7-1, 4 KOs) vs. Mikel Williams (Monroe, La., 8-30, 3 KOs)

8 Rounds – Super Middleweights

Juan Jose Cabrera (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, 22-0, 16 KOs) vs. Timothy Hall (9-20, 5 KOs)

6 Rounds – Featherweights (126 pounds)

Luis Rosario (Cidra, Puerto Rico, 5-0-1, 5 KOs) vs. Andres Balderas (Monclava, Mexico, 3-2, 2 KOs)

8 Rounds – Welterweights (147 pounds)

Bryant Perrella (Lehigh Acres, Fla., 8-0, 7 KOs) vs. Abraham Alvarez (Rosario, Mexico, 20-8, 10 KOs)

12 Rounds – WBC Lightweight Eliminator (135 pounds)

Ivan Redkach (Los Angeles, Calif. 18-0, 14 KOs) vs. Dejan Zlaticanin (Podorgica, Montenegro, 16-0, 9 KOs)

10 Rounds – WBC Contintental Americas Junior Middleweight Title (154 pounds)

Julian Williams (Philadelphia, Penna., 19-0-1, 11 KOs) vs. Armen Ovsepyan (Petropavlosk-Kamchatsky, Russia, 14-4, 11 KOs)

4/6 Rounds (Swing Bout) – Light Heavyweights (175 pounds)

Ahmed Elbiali (Miami, Fla., 10-0, 9 KOs) vs. Donta Woods (Atlanta, Goergia 8-4, 7 KOs)

12 Rounds – IBF Junior Lightweight Title

Jose “The Sniper” Pedraza (Caguas, Puerto Rico, 19-0, 12 KOs) vs. Andrey Klimov (Klimovsk, Russia, 19-1, 9 KOs)

12 Rounds – WBC Heavyweight Title 

Deontay Wilder (Tuscaloosa, Alabama, 33-0, 32 KOs) vs. Eric Molina (Raymondville, Texas, 23-2, 17 KOs)