By Allan Fox: Former two division world champion Cory Spinks (39-7, 11 KO’s) is fighting Carlos Molina (20-5-2, 6 KO”s) on February 1st at the UIC Pavilion in Chicago, Illinois. Also on the card will be Antwone Smith (22-4-1, 12 KO’s) taking on 39-year-old two-time WBC lightweight champion Jose Luis Castillo (64-11-1, 55 KO’s) in a scheduled 10 round bout.

Molina, 29, was beaten earlier this year by James Kirkland by a 10th round disqualification in a fight that Molina was winning. The fight was halted by referee Jon Schorle after the round had ended and Molina’s corner stepped inside the ring after the referee had given Molina a standing eight count. It was a questionable stoppage and it may have saved Kirkland from losing the fight.

It didn’t save Kirkland from looking awful though, as he didn’t impress at all despite winning the fight under questionable circumstances.

Molina beat Kermit Cintron last year, and held Erislandy Lara to a 10 round draw. Lara is one of the best fighters in the junior middleweight division but he wasn’t able to handle Molina’s superior inside work. In Molina’s last fight he defeated Damian Frias by a 10 round decision last August.

Spinks was stopped in the 7th round in his rematch with IBF light middleweight champion Cornelius Budradge last June. This was the second time that Spinks was stopped by Bundrage. In August 2010, Bundradge stopped Spinks in the 5th round. Spinks is still a good fighter and is capable of beating some of the good contenders in the division like Sechew Powell, but he seems to have problems with fighters with power.

Molina should win this fight. Spinks is getting up there in age and he can’t move like he used to be able to do.
Castillo, at one time one of the best fighters in the lightweight division, stopped being relevant back in 2005 when he could no longer make weight for the lightweight division. Castillo soon after moved up to welterweight where he’s had limited success, beating mostly 2nd tier opposition. He’s suffered losses to fighters like Ricky Hatton, Alfonso Gomez, Jorge Paez Jr., and Sebastian Lujan.

Also on the card will be super middleweight Don George facing an opponent still to be determined, heavyweight Artur Szpika facing Mike Mollo.