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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Native Texan Eric Molina concluded his decorated |
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career as a professional boxer in 2023, and his accomplishments in |
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the ring are indeed deserving of recognition; and |
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WHEREAS, The "Drummer Boy," as he is known to his fans, made |
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his professional debut on March 17, 2007; despite losing that bout, |
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Mr. Molina soon launched a triumphant run, emerging victorious in |
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his next 18 fights; over the course of his 16 years as a |
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professional, he captured the World Boxing Council Latino |
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Championship in 2009, the WBC U.S. Heavyweight Championship in |
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2011, and the WBC North American Boxing Federation Heavyweight |
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Championship in 2013; on June 13, 2015, he faced Deontay Wilder for |
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the WBC World Heavyweight Championship in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and |
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the following year, he earned another chance at the heavyweight |
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belt against Anthony Joshua; after matching up against Simon Kean |
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on March 23, 2023, in Montreal, Canada, he retired with a career |
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record of 29 wins and 9 losses with 21 knockouts; and |
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WHEREAS, The son of Ricardo and Debbie Molina, Eric Molina |
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was born in Raymondville and raised in Sebastian; he graduated from |
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Lyford High School in 2000 and went on to receive a bachelor's |
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degree in interdisciplinary studies and a master's degree in |
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special education from The University of Texas at Brownsville; |
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throughout much of his boxing career, he also worked as a special |
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education teacher for the Edinburg Consolidated Independent School |
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District, and since 2019, he has served as the assistant director of |
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the City of Edinburg Parks and Recreation Department; in all his |
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endeavors, he benefits from the love and support of his wife, |
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Yesenia; and |
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WHEREAS, Eric Molina has proven himself a boxer of |
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exceptional ability and unrelenting determination, and his |
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brilliance in the ring will continue to be fondly remembered across |
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the Lone Star State and beyond for many years to come; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas |
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Legislature hereby honor Eric Molina for his achievements in |
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professional boxing and extend to him sincere best wishes for the |
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future; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Mr. Molina as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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House of Representatives. |