Sharper Josesito Lopez stops gutsy John Molina Jr.

Josesito Lopez and John Molina Jr. are warriors through and through, but in the end, it was crisper and quicker Lopez who got the job done Saturday night at Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA.

Lopez (31-8, 20 KOs) almost ended matters in the opening stanza when he floored Molina twice. The Covina native got up with a shocked look on his face. Lopez tried to finish Molina (30-9, 24 KOs) with a right from Riverside that Molina managed to duck. A minute later he couldn’t avoid a left to the gut that sent him to the canvas for a second time. Molina beat the count and remained upright the rest of the round.

Lopez,35, came out jabbing in round two. His right basically couldn’t miss. He cracked Molina again. Molina,36, absorbed it and fought back. Lopez, obviously sharper, jabbed to the body and head. His right, yes, landed.Molina came back with a stiff jab at the bell.

Lopez bobbed and weaved in the next heat. He circled. Molina tried to get off, but his left hand was low-leaving him open for return fire. Lopez snapped Molina’s head back with sharp jabs and right hooks.

Lopez, nicknamed "The Riverside Rocky" had won the first three rounds easily. He had almost stopped Molina in the opening stanza. Molina would need to land his money punch, the right, to turn the fight around. Lopez kept shooting his jab in round four. Molina connected with a left and seconds later did land his powerful right. The blow seemed to bother Lopez.

Molina connected with a combination in round five. He was making every effort to get back in the fight. Lopez pushed Molina into the ropes and fired. Molina connected with another right. Both fighters connected with big shots in the opening seconds of round six. Molina absorbed another big right. Lopez was busier. Molina answered back. Lopez connected with three jabs on to Molina’s face. Molina whiffed with a big right.

In round seven, Lopez continued to box. He appeared to be comfortably ahead, but Molina, who’s come from behind to win fights in the past, kept winging his right. He would need a Hail Mary to connect. Lopez popped Molina with a triple jab. He connected with a couple of right hooks to the head. One sent Molina down for the third time. Molina of course got up and survived to hear the bell.

In his corner, Molina’s team wanted to stop the fight. The ringside doctor concurred, but the gutsy Molina asked for one more round. Lopez cracked Molina with rights and lefts. Some didn’t land that cleanly, but Molina didn’t fire back. Lopez landed again, prompting the referee the wave the fight off.

Time was 39 seconds into round eight.

“It was pleasure of being in the ring with John Molina," said the victorious Lopez. "I’d like to thank my team. I knew John Molina wasn’t going to quit. The “Riverside Rocky” was has a lot left.”