Bantamweight contender Jason ‘Mayhem’ Moloney 22-2 (18) is confident he would have the measure of WBC 118-pound champion Nonito ‘The Filipino Flash’ Donaire 41-6 (27) if the pair ever met in the ring.
The 30-year-old Australian has been ruminating on potential future matchups as he waits out the mandatory two week quarantine period in a hotel in his homeland following his 10-round unanimous decision victory over Joshua Greer Jr 22-3-2 (12) in America on August 14.
Donaire, 38, surprised many when he not only went the distance with Japanese superstar Naoya ‘The Monster’ Inoue 21-0 (18) in the final of the World Boxing Super Series but was competitive throughout the bout, even fracturing the now unified champion’s eye.
Donaire backed up with an eye-catching fourth-round knockout of previously undefeated Frenchman Nordine Oubaali 17-1 (12) in May to capture the WBC bantamweight title.
Moloney has studied Donaire for years and says he would relish the opportunity to test himself against the evergreen veteran.
“It’s a fight that really, really excites me,” Moloney said on the Main Event Boxing Podcast. “I’ve always actually been a huge fan of Donaire — even going back to before I was even a professional, he was probably up there with my top three or top five favourite fighters.
“There’s no doubt that even though he’s ageing now, he’s still a very dangerous man with huge power and a huge left hook that you have to be careful of. But I just see myself beating him.
“I’ve sparred Donaire on two occasions; and I know fighting and sparring are two completely different things, but I did walk away from those spars pretty confident with how I went — and I’ve improved a huge amount since then.
“I’m just confident I’ve got what it takes to beat a fighter like Donaire. And how incredible would it be because he’s an absolute legend of the sport and will no doubt go down in the Hall of Fame? So, it’s a fight that really excites me and a fight I really hope we can make happen one day.”
WBO titleholder John Riel Casimero 31-4 (21) and former champions Emmanuel Rodriguez 19-2 (12) 1NC and Oubaali are other names on Moloney’s hit-list.
“I just think they’re very, very winnable fights for me,” he said.
“It excites me that I am right in the mix, that I am capable of beating all these guys and becoming a world champion and dominate in this division.”
Moloney dropped a split decision to 29-year-old Puerto Rican Rodriguez in Orlando, Florida three years ago in his first world title shot. The fight was in the quarterfinals of the World Boxing Super Series.
“If I get in there again against him, I feel like I could just destroy him,” Moloney said.
“It would still be a good fight, I still think he’s a good fighter, but I just think with how much I’m continuing to improve that it’s a very winnable fight for me.”
