Super flyweight contender Andrew Moloney 26-3 (16) has not given up on his dream of holding a world championship belt at the same time as his twin brother Jason Moloney 26-2 (19).
Jason won the vacant WBO bantamweight title against Vincent Astrolabio 19-4 (14) by majority decision on May 13, one week before Andrew face Junto Nakatani 26-0 (19) for the vacant WBO 115-pound title.
That fight did not end well. The 32-year-old Australian was on the deck as early as the second round and again in the 11th before being knocked out cold in the final round.
The savage loss has stuck in Moloney’s craw ever since.
On Saturday night he got to put the loss behind him with a 10-round unanimous decision victory over tough Filipino Judy Flores 13-2 (7) at the Pullman Hotel in Albert Park, Melbourne, Australia.
The fight was close through the first five rounds with Moloney boxing pressuring well while the 25-year-old Flores kept up a sustained body attack off the counter.
Moloney took over in the sixth round and while Flores rallied well in the ninth, it was too little, too late.
When the dust had settler two of the judges saw the fight a shutout 100-90, while the third judge saw it close at 97-93.
“I was in against a world class opponent tonight,” Moloney said. “He was number 15 in the world [in both the WBA and WBO] and that’s what I wanted in my comeback fight. I didn’t want to come back and have an easy win for no reason. I want to progress in my career and fight for world titles in 2024 and hopefully that fight will push me in that direction.”
The Ring’s number eight ranked contender at 115-pounds said he was looking forward to taking some time off over the holidays before ramping up his world championship campaign in the new year.
“I’ve had to be selfish over the last couple of months. I haven’t been the husband or the dad I would like to be, but now I’ve got the win tonight we can enjoy Christmas and spend some quality time together,” said Moloney, who is the twin brother of reigning WBO bantamweight titleholder Jason Moloney.
“In 2024 I’m going to get that world title and join my brother as world champion.”
Moloney said before the fight that he still has plenty of improvement left in him after turning professional almost a decade ago.
“I’ve rested and reset after the Nakatani fight,” Moloney said in a media release. “I’m ready to get back in there and I know I’m still improving. That’s what’s exciting and I may go down to flyweight in 2024. That’s yet to be determined, I’m still ambitious in the sport and will be world champion again by any means necessary.”