In lieu of belt, John Molina Jr. strives to entertain again

John Molina Jr.’s dream of becoming a world champion still reaches him at age 33, but the Covina-raised boxer is well aware of the profitable niche he has found as someone capable of staging a fight of the year.

He shared the prize two years ago when he and Lucas Matthysse knocked each other down twice in Matthysse’s victory at StubHub Center.

Molina also rallied from being down big on all three scorecards to knock out Mickey Bey three years ago.

And on June 11, he has been assigned a certain slugfest on Showtime (9 p.m. PDT) against former 140-pound world champion Ruslan Provodnikov.

“I definitely want the fans to know when I fight they’re going to get a fight, but I’m not in this business just to fight,” the Reseda-trained Molina said Tuesday at a workout in Hollywood. “I want some accolades, some hardware on the world level.”

Although he said it’s “never a bad thing” to be known for being a willing participant who faced opponents such as Matthysse, Humberto Soto and Adrien Broner all in a year’s time, that shouldn’t mask his yearning for a belt.

“I’m a competitor. I have a goal in mind and that goal is in my heart and it’s burning,” Molina said. “Boxing has provided a life for me and my family that I can only dream about. I’m very content – not content, complacency is a killer – I’m very motivated to never let that change. That’s why I leave it in the ring all the time. My family is now used to a lifestyle I don’t want to change. That motivation will keep me going until the day I die. So I welcome big fights. I welcome Ruslan Provodnikov, Matthysse, Broner. This is what brings out the best in me.”

Molina (28-6, 23 knockouts) ended a losing streak at three fights with a third-round technical knockout of Jorge Romero in November, and now faces a 32-year-old Russian brawler who nearly knocked out Timothy Bradley in 2013 and staged runner-up fight of the year against Matthysse in April 2015.

Provodnikov (25-4, 18 KOs) and Molina will fight at Turning Stone Resort and Casino in New York, a week after 2015 fight-of-the-year winner Francisco Vargas defends his World Boxing Council super-featherweight belt against rugged countryman Orlando Salido at StubHub Center.

The boxers were asked whether there would be an uncommunicated agreement to stage a better fight than the expected war between Vargas and Salido.

“Naturally, with me and Ruslan, we’ll bring that out, even with no fight like [Vargas-Salido] the week before,” Molina said. “If we were fighting in the backyard in front of friends, we’d bring that, and the promoters knew that when they were looking for a fight. … ‘Where can we get that spontaneous combustion? Ruslan Provodnikov and John Molina Jr.? That makes sense.’ ”

Provodnikov is training in Indio under Bradley’s former trainer, Joel Diaz.

“I give everything I have,” Provodnikov said. “I treat every fight like it’s my last fight. No doubt he’s a warrior, he’ll do anything possible to win. This is the type of fight that can’t not be exciting. I definitely like the guys who like to brawl.”

Molina wore a Rams hat to his workout and said he named his 3-month-old daughter Riley so her initials would be R.A.M. He said the plan is to defeat Provodnikov and find a title fight anywhere in the 140- or 147-pound limit.

“I have unfinished business and before this is all said and done, I will bring home that world title,” Molina said. “Knock-down, drag-out, I will get mine. I’ve made it here by my will and consistency. I’m going to get what I want.”