Steve Molitor outpoints Jason Booth to retain 122-pound belt

Steve Molitor retained his IBF super bantamweight title with a majority decision over Jason Booth on the road in the United Kingdom, winning on scores of 116-112, 116-113 and 114-114. Bad Left Hook had it even wider for Molitor, 118-110, but most rounds were competitive, and it was a solid fight.

The difference at the end was quality of punches, really. Molitor (33-1, 12 KO) and Booth (35-6, 15 KO) both gave a good effort overall, but Molitor was shaky in the start, splitting the first four rounds on our card with Booth, who was smaller and overall not as skilled, but more aggressive and ready to fight. Molitor's craftiness was one reason he overcame the early challenge, but most importantly, he simply woke up starting in the sixth round, and started throwing punches in combination and landing better blows than did the challenger.

Molitor is definitely not the fighter he was before, and many still point to his loss to Celestino Caballero as a turning point for his career. But when he woke up in this one, he was clearly the better man.

Our live coverage today continues one post down, with the world heavyweight championship fight between Wladimir Klitschko and Samuel Peter.