As we come closer to the end of another year, the talks for Fight of the Year really begin to take place. Usually there is one stand out winner that most agree should take the prize, but in 2014 there is room for debate. There are two fights that most fight fans can agree should definitely be at the top of the list, Lucas Matthysse vs. John Molina and Terence Crawford vs. Yuriorkis Gamboa, but hardcore fans and boxing purists will tell you that Francisco Rodriguez Jr vs. Katsunari Takayama should also rightfully be considered.
FightHype recently caught up with John Molina Jr. to reflect on his war with Matthysse and discuss its chances of winning the 2014 Fight of the Year honors. Both Molina and Matthysse traded turns tasting the canvas until their all-out action affair ended with Molina succumbing in the 11th round. It stole the show on a card that featured other all-action exciting fighters, including undefeated WBA interim welterweight champion Keith Thurman as well as undefeated WBC lightweight champion Omar Figueroa, and quickly became a candidate for Fight of the Year.
"I don't see a fight that can match it, to be honest with you. For people to say the Gamboa and Terence Crawford match, I think it's a completely different fight. I think the grand consensus is that the fight with me and Matthysse was a war and you haven't had that kind of a war so far this year," Molina would tell FightHype.com during a recent interview.
While Molina's fight with Matthysse was indeed an all-out slugfest, Crawford vs. Gamboa wasn't short of action itself as Gamboa tasted the canvas four times before getting stopped in the 9th round. It pitted two undefeated fighters against each other and ultimately led to Crawford's coming out party with the win legitimized his standing in the Lightweight division. Nevertheless, Molina still feels comfortable that his fight will be awarded, though he does admit that another upcoming fight could easily turn out to be an exciting bout that might get Fight of the Year consideration.
"The fight that I am intrigued to watch and should be a good fight is Bradley-Chaves. I think that'll be a really good fight," Molina added. "But I believe in my heart of hearts that me and Matthysee will win that Fight of the Year and I believe it definitely calls for an encore."
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