Friday 2 December 2016 08:12, UK
Eric Molina insists he is not "sold" on Anthony Joshua and believes British fight fans are too quick to praise the IBF heavyweight champion.
The American challenger is expected to arrive in Britain this weekend ahead of his world title fight with Joshua on Saturday December 10, live on Sky Sports Box Office.
Joshua won the IBF title in only his 16th fight and has knocked out all of his previous opponents, but Molina insists the champion is yet to earn his total respect.
"It's amazing to me that these people from England are 100 per cent sold on this guy," Molina said. "I don't feel like he's done enough to merit that yet.
My message to the UK fans - slow it down, don't be sold on this guy so fast.
"Now I'm not saying one day he won't be that, but I'm saying that he hasn't faced the different opposition in the ring to title him that yet.
"I think he does a lot of great things, but I don't think that he's faced a lot of parts of his career where he's been tested in certain areas so we can say that he's 100 per cent sound in that ring.
"My message to the UK fans - slow it down, don't be sold on this guy so fast. There is a lot of situations for Joshua to see in the ring. Slow down a little bit."
Molina produced a dismissive response after Joshua suggested he wanted an 'easy' title defence and has vowed to be brutally honest if he's drawn into a war of words in fight week.
"If he wants to be disrespectful, I'll be disrespectful, but for the most part I try not to be that person," said Molina.
"I won't let nobody run over me, but at the same time, I just say it the way it is and that is all I can do."
Watch Anthony Joshua v Eric Molina at the Manchester Arena, on December 10, live on Sky Sports Box Office. Book the event online here.
