Andrew Moloney impressed by Ioka, eyes New Years Eve showdown in Japan or Australia
Andrew Moloney was as ever graceful as he watched WBO World super-flyweight champion Kazuto Ioka cruise to a unanimous decision victory over Donnie Nietes this past week in Tokyo, Japan.
Ioka was dominant, as he continues to defy the laws of aging in boxing's lower weight classes.
Moloney gave his take on Ioka's performance in Japan, "Kazuto Ioka will go down as one of the greatest little big men of all time. There is no doubt about that. I have the utmost of respect for him, he is a great champion.
"He fought a great fight against Nietes, but to be slightly critical, I think both are them have slowed down a little. That is not meant in a disrespectful way, but that happens with age, you have to adapt, as Bernard Hopkins did. There were elements to Ioka's style that mirrored what he did as a light flyweight that I think could cause him issues against a bigger super flyweight such as myself."
As we enter into the final third of the year, the boxing eyes in the land of the rising sun begin to look to whom will box on New Year's Eve, with December 31 being one of boxing's biggest dates in Japanese boxing culture.
Moloney discussed his hopes of landing a fight on the prestigious date in the Japanese boxing calendar.
The former WBA world champion stated, "I'd love the opportunity to travel to Japan to fight Kazuto Ioka, that is a dream of a fighter in the lower weight classes such as myself. To headline in Tokyo on New Year's Eve would be something I'd dream of doing against such a great champion and then to become world champion again would be the icing on the cake.
"I do believe I'd beat Ioka, I believe I'm still getting better and showed that last time out. I would extend the invitation to Ioka to come over to Australia also, as Aussie boxing is booming right now and I fully believe the Australian boxing public would embrace a clash between myself and a legendary fighter in Ioka."
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