Bantamweight contender Jason ‘Mayhem’ Moloney 21-2 (18) returns to the ring for the first time since his seventh-round knockout loss to WBA and IBF 118-pound champion Naoya ‘The Monster’ Inoue 21-0 (18) last October when he takes on Joshua Greer Jr 22-2-2 (12) over 10 rounds at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Tulsa, Oklahoma on Saturday night.
The 27-year-old Greer from Chicago appeared to be on the up until last year when he found himself on the canvas twice and dropped a 10-round majority decision to Mike Plania 25-1 (12) in Las Vegas in June.
Things didn’t get much better for Greer in November when he had to settle for an eight-round majority draw against unheralded Edwin Rodriguez 11-6-2 (5) again in Las Vegas.
Despite Greer’s patchy form over the past year, 30-year-old Moloney says he is not underestimating his opponent.
“I see this is a must-win fight for both myself and for Greer,” Moloney told The Ring. “I’m expecting and I’m prepared for a hard fight. I just believe that I will be too good for Greer.
“I’m working very hard and I’m extremely determined to get myself back into the mix for a world title. I want this so bad and I’m not letting anyone stop me.”
“I think I’ve fought and beaten the better opposition and my greatest asset is that I am constantly working and hungry to improve. I feel like I keep getting better and I’m looking forward to showing my best performance yet.”
Moloney’s two losses have both come in world title fights. In the quarter-finals of the World Boxing Super Series in October 2018 he lost a razor-thin split decision to then IBF champion Emmanuel Rodriguez 19-2 (12) of Puerto Rico. Rodriguez would go on to get knocked out in two frames by Japanese powerhouse Inoue in the semi-final.
Moloney says the losses to Inoue and Rodriguez have only helped him refine his craft.
“I feel like I really learned a lot from that fight,” he said. “I really improved as a fighter after my loss to Rodriguez in 2018 and I worked my way back up to the number one position and earned my shot against Inoue.
“I didn’t get the result I wanted but I feel like it has made me a much more complete fighter. I’m ready to put in the hard work and I’m determined to do whatever it takes to become world champion.”
“I was straight back in the gym after that loss – so hungry and so determined to improve. I feel that I’ve really gone to another level since the Inoue fight and I’m really excited to show that in my performance against Greer.
“I feel like a new fighter now and this will be the start of a very successful journey to the top.”
