LAS VEGAS (Ticker) -- IBF junior lightweight champion Roberto Garcia hopes to make a statement tonight when he defends his title against former two-time champion John Molina on the undercard of the Mike Tyson-Francois Botha heavyweight bout.

Also, undefeated junior welterweight prospect Zab Judah looks to earn a share of the IBF 140-pound belt when he meets Wilfredo Negron of Puerto Rico for the interim title.

The undefeated Garcia (31-0, 24 KOs) hopes an impressive win over the fading Molina will propel him into a unification showdown with undefeated WBC counterpart Floyd Mayweather Jr. A showcase bout against the formible Angel Manfredy also could be on the line for the 23-year-old Garcia.

In 1992, he made his debut at the age of 17. He won three bouts, all by knockout, in Japan before returning to the United States to resume his career. Garcia learned his boxing craft under the watchful eye of his dad and trainer, Eduardo.

Garcia has been plagued by promotional problems throughout his career despite impressive victories over Derrick Gainer, Julian Wheeler and Darryl Pinckney. Garcia finally got his shot at a world title in March and captured the vacant IBF 130-pound belt by easily outpointing rugged veteran Frank Warren.

In his initial title defense, Garcia had a tougher than expected battle with Cuba's Ramon Ledon. The champion was floored by Ledon in the second round and was rocked again later in the round. But Garcia regrouped and dropped the upset-minded challenger in the fourth and twice in the fifth to retain the title.

Molina (45-5, 30 KOs) hopes to make the most of his latest title shot. The 33-year-old Puerto Rican was thoroughly outclassed by IBF lightweight champ Shane Mosley in May.

Molina has twice held the IBF's version of the 130-pound title. He won the belt with a 10th-round stoppage of Tony Lopez in October 1989 and made one title defense. But he lost the strap back to Lopez seven months later.

Molina recaptured the crown in February 1992 when he traveled to South Africa and knocked out Jackie Gunguluza. He made seven successful defenses before relinquishing the title to face rising star Oscar de la Hoya. Molina gave de la Hoya all he could handle in a hard-fought match before dropping a 12-round decision. Despite winning eight of his last nine bouts, Molina has looked less than stellar.

In the junior welterweight showdown, the winner of the Judah-Negron match must meet Vince Phillips, who has not defended his title in 10 months. Phillips finally will defend against top-ranked Terronn Millett on March 13 with the winners of both fights meeting within 90 days to crown a sole champion.

Judah (18-0, 1 NC, 13 KOs) is the latest star to come from the Main Events stable. The 21-year Brooklyn, New York native has been compared to stablemate and six-time champion Pernell Whitaker. Judah had an outstanding amateur career, compiling a 110-5 mark, and was an alternate on the 1996 United States Olympic team. As a professional, he has stormed through the competition, including impressive victories over veterans Mickey Ward and Darryl Tyson.

Negron (17-3, 14 KOs) possesses the power to give Judah problems. He has won five of his last six bouts, but has been inactive since March.

Also on the undercard, undefeated Ben Tackie of Ghana (18-0, 11 KOs) meets Mexico's Goyo Vargas (38-6-1, 28 KOs) in a 12-round lightweight battle.

Back