IBF Jr. Middleweight champion Carlos is in a Las Vegas jail due to some outstanding warrants that is putting his title defense with Jermall Charlo in jeopardy that is scheduled for this Saturday in Las Vegas according to Dan Rafael of espn.com
“We’re still working on getting him out of jail,” Warriors Boxing promoter Leon Margules told ESPN.com on Thursday after Molina was a no show at the final news conference. “There is an immigration hold on him and we’re trying to figure everything out. I’m doing my best. Carlos just said, ‘Get me out, I want to fight.'”
Molina, 30, of Chicago, was arrested in Las Vegas on Tuesday morning on an outstanding warrant from 2007 in Wisconsin because he failed to register as a sex offender. But even after the warrant was taken care of Thursday and Molina had been granted bail, his release was denied when Las Vegas police learned that he was also wanted by immigration officials.
“In 2001, when he was 18 years old — and I’m just learning all this this week — he got arrested for statutory rape. She was 16 or 15, two teenagers,” Margules, who is also an attorney, said. “Not knowing how it would impact his life at all, he pled guilty to time served in Appleton, Wis., and did three years probation and never registered as a sex offender. That was what the warrant was for. I worked it out.
“We spoke to Wisconsin and we agreed on a $10,000 bond. We had a bond hearing (Thursday morning in Las Vegas). I posted the bond. He was supposed to be out by 10 or 11 and be at the press conference. Then we found out there was an immigration hold.”
“I thought he was a citizen. He was a permanent resident,” Margules said.
“I’m working on it. Do I think I’m getting him out? I have no idea,” he said. “I thought I was getting him out (Thursday) morning. I’m trying to get to the bottom of what the actual issue is. The first time I heard the word ‘immigration’ was when he was bailing out of jail.”
“It’s a lot frustrating. It’s part of the struggle but I’m here to fight,” Charlo said. “I’m in shape. I had an awesome training camp. I’m ready for whatever Carlos Molina brings or if he don’t bring it, I’m ready to get back in camp and get another fight.
“Stuff happens. My hopes up are. I really feel like the fight is gonna happen. I’m here waiting. I’m anticipating that I’ll fight. I’m gonna weigh in (on Friday) and I’m gonna be on point. If we don’t fight, I’ll take a rest and I’ll get back in camp.”
