Super flyweight contender Andrew ‘The Monster’ Moloney 22-2 (14) got back in the winners circle with a wide 10-round unanimous decision win over former world title challenger Froilan ‘The Sniper’ Saludar 32-5-1 (22) at The Star Event Centre in Sydney, Australia on Tuesday night.
The 30-year-old from Kingscliff, Australia threw his jab with authority and worked the body with both hands, keeping up a high workrate throughout the fight and frequently backing Saludar up to the ropes.
Filipino Saludar, 32, proved to be tough, soaking up all the punishment that Moloney threw his way without wilting.
The scores at the conclusion were 98-92 and 99-91 twice.
“I mean, all these Filipinos, I’ve fought quite a lot of them now, they’re just so tough,” Moloney said.
“They don’t get the credit they deserve. And boy, he was so tough. A few times I thought I might’ve had him there, but just his head is made out of concrete or something – just so tough.”
The victory was the first for Moloney in two years following his trilogy with Joshua Franco that saw him go 0-2 with one no contest, although many felt his should have be awarded the win in the second bout by TKO.
“Unfortunately, the trilogy with Franco didn’t go my way but I feel I learned a hell of a lot from this experience and have become a much better fighter from it,” Moloney told The Ring last week. “I look forward to showing my improvements on December 9.”
The Saludar bout was for the vacant WBO Oriental title, with Moloney targeting a shot at WBO 115-pound champion Kazuto Ioka 27-2 (15), who is set to take on fellow Japanese boxer Ryoji Fukunaga 15-4 (14) on New Years Eve.
“This is a must win fight for me,” Moloney said to The Ring ahead of the fight. “We have taken on a tough test in Froilan Saludar and I’m hoping that a win over him will push my right back up the ratings and hopefully into a world title fight in 2022.”
Manager Tony Tolj explained the plan to get Moloney a world title shot next year.
“This is a very tough fight. Saludar is a former world title challenger with impressive wins in China and Japan,” said Tolj to The Ring last week. “I back the quality of Andrew Moloney all the way and I know how gutted he was after the previous fight [against Franco].
“Saludar has been sparring the WBA flyweight champion [Artem Dalakian]. The WBC championship is road blocked at moment and Franco is ordered to fight the winner of [Ring, WBA champion Juan Francisco] Estrada and [Roman] ‘Chocolatito’ [Gonzalez]. This fight will be for the WBO Oriental junior bantamweight championship and we would be geared towards Ioka.”
Moloney is confident the Ioka fight will be easy enough to make.
“This win should move into the top five,” Moloney told The Daily Telegraph. “And from there I’m hoping to get a shot at Ioka as soon as possible.
“He’s fighting on New Years Eve so will be looking to fight again early next year — as I will be.
“So ideally I’ll get a shot at him straight away.
“If not then I’ll take an eliminator to make myself the mandatory.
“I believe I’m world title calibre and want to get back there as soon as possible.”
