Correction: This fight is being billed as the first 15 round bout since 1988, however an astute reader pointed out that the last 15 rounder was actually fought on June 7, 1997 between Jose “Shibata” Flores and Eric Holland for a fringe middleweight title. Good catch!
Former IBF junior middleweight champion Carlos Molina, who has been promoting his own fights under the King Carlos Promotions banner, has announced that his next fight scheduled for November 6 will be a 15-rounder. Molina (34-11-2, 12 KOs) will take on Juan Carlos Raygosa (17-15-3, 6 KOs) in the first 15 round bout since August 29, 1988 when IBF mini-flyweight champion Samuth Sithnaruepol took a 15 round decision over In-Kyu Hwang in Bangkok, Thailand.
“Watching the fights from the 80’s I always dreamed of fighting a 15 rounder,” said Molina. “I always push my body to the limit in training so if it goes 15 rounds I am more than ready!”
Will be interesting to see the WBC’s reaction to this announcement, as they have been supplying remote judging for Molina’s shows. The WBC was the first sanctioning body to eliminate 15 round bouts citing safety reasons, a practice soon adopted by the other sanctioning organizations.
I hope this doesn’t become the norm ever again, but I have to admit – it’s kind of a cool idea by Molina.
When Duran was in shape as a lightweight he could have fought for 50 rounds. He was something special to watch when in training camp. Ray Arcel and Freddie Brown were also his trainers. Top notch , the best.
Awesome! It’s about time…
That’s exactly what I say. Twelve rounds is for prelim kids. Bring back 15!
Never a fan of this twelve round BS. It’s like cutting baseball to seven innings or football to three quarters. Plus with an even number of rounds, you get more draws (6-6 in rounds).
Move the weigh-in to the day of, add the three rounds (15 rounds – Championships) and the safety will be there. Fighters will be fighting at their natural weights…
Very sensible observation.
Also get rid of the junior and super divisions which encourage squeezing into an unnatural weight class.
Wooow!!! At the very least, I hope this catches a trend for title fights and for eliminator fights.
Bring back the 15 round fights to see which fighter digs deeper for more title/money glory because draws suck. Boxers are amazing athletes, and I KNOW they are fully capable of adjusting (gradually or immediately) to 15 round title fights and eliminator fights.
Let’s hope others will follow this move. I am smiling like a kid drinking Kool-Aid…OOHH YEEAAHHH!!
Vinny Pazienza v Dan Sherry in 1993 was also a 15-rounder (it ended in the 11th)
Should only be allowed for unification bouts. Champion vs champion. See who we can call the real champ in that weight class.
I say in my eBook ‘Boxing University’ that 15Rounds was eliminated to firstly cover criminal negligence for many 15Rounds bouts that resulted with the pugilist’s death and or the process of incurring post—career health complications were highly noticeable thereof. These were due to the highest majority of (human) match-making errors promotional interest that disregarded human life and or the TV networks haste to showcase a ‘championship’ bout. They were NOT the ‘fault’ of boxing’s physical contact.
I actually thought the most recent 15Round contest was in August of 1990. This 1997 document is good news to hear. And this upcoming 15Rounds is another eye opener that many fighters that desired to be compared to the golden era gladiators did not vie for 15Rounds in their day like James Toney and Bernard Hopkins. None exceptions. Archie Moore’s career and post-career healthfulness proves 15Rounds and Same-day Weigh-in represent Boxing Science as a noble gladiatorial profession and mastery. Mr. Moore lived healthy post-career and died naturally. He had an amazingly healthy professional boxing career span that exemplified ‘valuing an respecting’ one’s craft and procedures [ of the Same-day Weigh-in ]. Marvelous Marvin Hagler is the more recent Same-day Weigh-in and 15Rounds era model that is living healthy 33 years past his final bout.
He was a reliable and dedicated professional pugilist for 67 pro bouts that competed in ONE weight class as an amateur and professional. That is a very unique and rare distinction. Moreover, Mr. Hagler competed during competition [ unlike the Floyd Mayweather-types of the post 1990 era that ‘buys time’ during the fight with the mindset of securing the durational points decision ]. Whomever goes against the Same-day Weigh-in and 15Rounds only sees the topical aspects of boxing and do N O T comprehend that boxing is an infinite science that produces healthfulness during combat for the dedicated pugilist within its defensive and offensive synchronicities.
HalleluYAH To The Christ. ©️ 2017, 2020 Coach Hilario
I don’t like seeing boxers with incredible hearts going the extra 3 rounds and getting severely hurt in the process………… get it done in 12 !
There is a reason that 15 rounders were eliminated. The safety of the fighters. As fatigue sets in, it is easier to hit your opponent. Punch drunk fighters are not a pretty sight. The sweet science is entertaining, but at what expense?