Fighter Pulls From Pacquiao-Thurman Card
–Update– PBC has announced Jayar Inson, last seen in a split-decision loss to Jonathan Steele on the undercard of the Manny Pacquiao vs. Adrien Broner will step in for Molina Jr. to face Lipinets on the card.
Inson was initially set to fight Mahonri Montes in an eight-round bout on the off-TV undercard, but now will make his way to the main pay-per-view card against Lipinets.
With little over twenty four hours away from fight night, John Molina Jr’s back has given out on him.
Initially reported by Boxing Scene, the veteran title challenger has been pulled from his fight with former world champion Sergey Lipinets, with little time to find a replacement for their scheduled showdown on the pay-per-view card headlined by Manny Pacquiao and Keith Thurman.
“We’re just thinking about Saturday night,” Alex Vaysfeld, Lipinets’ manager told BoxingScene.com, though declining specific comment on Molina’s situation when asked to verify the news. “Until we’re told otherwise, Sergey is ready to show on Saturday night all of the hard work he’s put in to prepare for this event.”
Lipinets was set to make his return to the ring after his March knockout of Lamont Peterson, sending Peterson to the canvas and into retirement.
Molina Jr, who has lost five of his last eight fights since his 2014 knockout loss to Lucas Matthysse, who had a September 2018 fight with Victor Ortiz, but it would be quickly cancelled when Ortiz was arrested on sexual assault charges.
Molina would then end a 14 month break to face Omar Figueroa Jr, in what was supposed to be a super lightweight bout this past February.
The fight would then become a catchweight at the behest of Figueroa, who’d take a decision and a spot on the pay-per-view against Yordenis Ugas in a title eliminator.
Lipinets and his team are actively searching for an opponent to keep him on the card, as two different opponents have been offered to fight the former champion, but are subject to approval by the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
Report: Boxing Scene