Andrew “Monster” Moloney: “Australian boxing is flying; we could have six or seven mens world champs by the end of the year. That’s absolutely insane!!”
Andrew Moloney (26-3-1, 10KO) wants to be part of Australian boxing’s “insane” uprising, as the 33-year-old chases another world title shot.
The former WBA super-flyweight champion’s American promoter Top Rank is pushing for Japanese star Kosei Tanaka to fight the Australian on the George Kambosos-Vasiliy Lomachenko card on May 12 in Perth.
That’s assuming Tanaka takes care of Mexico’s Christian Bacasegua in Tokyo this Saturday, February 24, when the pair fight for the vacant WBO World super-flyweight belt.
Andrew “The Monster” Moloney is the WBO #3 contender behind that duo and is banking on the status of the Perth card to drag Tanaka out of Japan to build his global audience with an Australian appearance.
Last May, 2104 Commonwealth Games gold medallist Moloney suffered a brutal final-round knockout in his Las Vegas world title fight with Junto Nakatani, who will fight Alexandro Santiago up a weight for Santiago’s WBC bantamweight belt on the Tanaka card.
Moloney then defied advice of keyboard warriors and close family alike to hang up the gloves, beating Filipino Judy Flores in December to get back into the conversation.
“After a loss and KO like that it feels like the world’s going to end,” the 33-year-old Aussie told the AAP.
“A lot of people thought my career was over; I had a few tell me and saw a lot of comments that I should call it a day.
“But I’ve got more to give and it just made me more determined.
“Another world title shot seemed a world away, but it could come in less than 12 months.”
The Aussie Uprising
A seven-time national amateur champion, Moloney has been rated among the country’s elite professionals since his overseas debut in 2019.
Twin brother Jason won his WBO bantamweight title a week before the Vegas knockout, with Andrew in his corner in Canada last month for an incredible title defence against Saul Sanchez.
Moloney said his brother Jason’s defence, as well as Rohan Murdock’s stoic loss on that Canadian card, had turned heads.
“I reckon every promoter watching that Canada card walked away thinking, ‘We need Aussies in our shows’,” Andrew proudly stated.
“Australian boxing is flying; we could have six or seven men’s world champs by the end of the year. That’s absolutely insane.
“Things have changed; we can be a powerhouse.”