What Next for Philadelphia’s “Hammerin” Hank Lundy?

What Next for Philadelphia’s “Hammerin” Hank Lundy?

By Ken Hissner (July 15, 2010) Doghouse Boxing

How many times have you seen it when a fighter needs a knockout to pull out a win? John Molina, 21-1 (17), Covina, CA, was told this in the corner before the eleventh round by his trainer Joe Goosen. In the other corner was Philadelphia’s “Hammerin” Hank Lundy, 18-1-1 (10), the WBO NABO champion about to go into “dark” waters of the eleventh round for the first time. They say watch what you ask for and Lundy had a contract for twelve rounds and Molina for ten rounds. Lundy’s team won out or did they? Lundy would have won a decision after ten rounds but Goosen may have told Molina after the eighth “you need a knockout“. After viewing Lundy’s eleventh round loss to Molina the following is what I saw.

Coming out from the bell southpaw Lundy picked Molina apart for two rounds. The slower but stronger Molina knew it would be a long night if it went the distance. In the third round when Molina pinned Lundy to the ropes he was able to land some punches. The fourth was more of the same with Molina suffering a welt under his right eye. In the fifth round Molina finally got on the board with Lundy back in charge in the sixth. Molina took the seventh and Lundy was switching back to orthodox for some reason. Since boxing southpaw was working he should have stayed there.

In the eighth Lundy landed a lead right and then a left before spinning to his left. He never saw the punch coming as Molina was throwing to hit something and it ended up on Lundy’s jaw. Down he went on his side flipping onto his stomach. It didn’t look like he was going to get up but he did. He tried holding onto Molina but got pushed off. There was a minute to go in the round and he survived.

In the ninth round Lundy was on his bicycle after feeling Molina’s power. Whether he ever recovered from the knockdown is in question. Molina would come back to take the tenth round. At the end of the tenth round two judges had it 98-91 and the other 97-92 all for Lundy. Though this writer had it closer there was no doubt Lundy was ahead. I didn’t like the fact that there was a Spanish referee in there when there is only one Spanish fighter. You can say what you want but I have seen it work to the Spanish fighter’s advantage too many times over the years.

Lundy made the mistake of backing into the ropes where he was a sitting target for Molina who had problems in the middle of the ring hitting Lundy. This writer counted thirteen unanswered punches thrown by Molina of which less than half may have gotten through but one that did rocked Lundy when he had his guard down and that was the tenth punch. He should have either tied up Molina or dropped to a knee which makes me feel he wasn’t thinking clear due to the punches from the taller Molina.

Immediately after the referee’s stoppage one of manager Ivan Cohen’s sons jumped into the ring protesting to referee Ricky Gonzalez. There wasn’t a question it was stopped prematurely at 2:18 of the round but Lundy was not defending himself though his hands were up for all but a couple of punches.

In talking with manager Cohen he stated Lundy, trainer Sloan Harrison and his other son Brian who is Lundy’s strength and conditioning coach all had diarrhea for several days before the fight but the show must go on. Cohen asked promoter Goosen when he came into the dressing room for a rematch and he declined stating Lundy was too tough to do it again. Molina stated “Lundy was my toughest opponent” and if Lundy doesn’t admit Molina was his toughest than let me say he was.

Where does the young Philadelphia prospect go from here after suffering his first loss? Lundy is a very outspoken person and he will have to swallow a lot of pride in this defeat. If he directs it in a positive way he can benefit from it. If he starts making excuses like DeLaHoya after every loss than his career will be filled with ups and downs. Lundy must admit he made several mistakes and with a puncher you cannot afford them. You cannot stay on the ropes for more than a couple of combinations without either grabbing your opponent, spinning out or taking a knee if you head is clear enough.

For Molina it should get him into the WBO ranking where Lundy was holding down the No. 7 spot. There is no way Molina get’s back into the ring with Lundy. He has nothing to prove and will be made to look bad again unless he scores a knockout. Lundy is full of tricks and in lowering his weight to 135 must understand he is not as strong as he was at 140. In preparing for this fight he sparred with Gabe Rosado who is taller and a good 154 pound Philadelphia boxer who can certainly hit harder than Molina but is much slower at that weight. This could be the best thing to ever happen to Lundy or the worst thing.

Lundy has to sit down and talk to his manager and trainer honestly. He was considered the closest thing out of Philly in these modern times to “Gypsy” Joe Harris but Harris had a chin that stood up to Joe Frazier in the gym. My advice to Lundy is get beyond this loss, don’t play the blame game and get back into the ring as soon as possible after the thirty day suspension. Believe me, if he does it won’t be the last time you hear from “Hammerin” Hank Lundy!

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