Mike Mollo Profile

By Boxing News - 01/14/2008 - Comments

World Boxing Association Fedelatin Champion. Born on Feb. 11, 1980, in Chicago, Illinois. Height: 6’ 1” – Weight: Heavyweight (231). Record: 19-1 (12 KOs).

Born into a working class Italian family in Chicago’s south suburbs, young Mike Mollo got into numerous scuffles on the streets of his neighborhood. Already 230 pounds as a 14-year-old, he was quickly was taken to the local boxing club to hone his skills and apply his energy in a more constructive manner.

After a brief amateur career, Mollo made his professional debut on June 25, 2000, scoring a first round knock out over Terry Coffin in Elgin, Illinois. Over the next four years, Mollo would steadily build his undefeated professional record while working fulltime as a union ironworker, high above the streets of downtown Chicago.

Jerry Attardi of A Team Management signed Mollo to a contract in 2005 that allows Mike the freedom to train fulltime while supporting his family. “I have to thank my manager Jerry Atardi and his partners in A Team Management for believing in me and getting me this opportunity,” Mollo said. “With Jerry’s help, Al Bonanni in my corner and now being signed with the greatest promoter, Don King, I know that with God’s help, I have everything I need to become a champion.”

Already wildly popular with Chicago fight fans, Mollo used his hard-punching, aggressive style to capture the International Boxing Federation, World Boxing Organization and World Boxing Council Latino heavyweight titles on November 4, 2005 before a sold out, hometown crowd. Although they are continental titles, winning these belts was an important step toward helping an up-and-coming boxer climb higher in the world ratings of the sanctioning bodies.

Mollo and his management team immediately looked to step up their competition and found a willing “name” heavyweight in DaVarryl “Touch of Sleep” Williamson (22-4, 18 KOs). Williamson, a highly decorated amateur who had faced some of the best heavyweights in the world including Wladimir Klitschko and Chris Byrd, was known for his big over hand right. On May 6, 2006, in Worcester, Mass., Mollo met that punch and lost by TKO 4.

“I wanted to step up and see what I had against a veteran,” Mollo said after the fight. “Until the fight was stopped, and I thought they stopped it prematurely, I was winning. I learned a lot in facing an experienced fighter like DaVarryl and am a better fighter for it.”

Mollo returned to the ring in Chicago on August 25, 2006, and knocked out Willie Walker in the first round. Still a crowd favorite, Mollo proved that his confidence and power were still in tact after the Williamson loss and that he is ready to go forward in his quest for a heavyweight crown.

His biggest win to date came when he took on Mike Tyson conqueror Kevin McBride on Oct. 7 at the Allstate Arena in Chicago for the vacant World Boxing Association Fedlatin title. McBride was the heavy favorite after beating Tyson into retirement in 2005.

Mollo shocked McBride by beating him into a standing-eight count in the first stanza, then finished him off with two knockdowns before the referee waved off the action just 44 seconds into the second round.

“I saw the opening and took it,” Mollo said after the fight. “I knew the right hands to the body were hurting McBride. I saw the expression on his face in the clinch and I moved up to the head.

“I was not surprised McBride went so quickly. We trained for 12 rounds but I caught him early.”

Mollo defeated Zack Page (12-10-1, 4 KOs) by 8-round unanimous decision on March 2, 2007.

Promoter Don King then announced Mollo would take on Canadian Olympian (2000) Art “The Polish Warrior” Binkowski, also a favorite in Chicago, at the Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates, Ill., on Oct. 13.

“I’m coming to fight,” Mollo said at the announcement press conference. “I’m going to show everybody that I’m a real contender and not a pretender. Binkowski is durable but we’re going to see how durable he really is.”

The Polish Warrior talked tough.

“I know I’m fighting a high-caliber guy, but he’s not the one that went to the Olympics. He’s not the one with 112 amateur fights.”

Mollo turned in a dominating performance, battering his veteran opponent from pillar to post. He dropped Binkowski three times in the second round before the referee halted the contest.

When asked how he felt after the fight, Mollo exclaimed, “Unbelievable, super aggressive like a pit bull. Binkowski ran his mouth so much before the fight I had to shut him up. I would have died in the ring before I lost to him. Now I want Golota.”

Mollo resides in Chicago with his wife and five-year-old son Orlando.