Two-time bantamweight world title challenger Jason ‘Mayhem’ Moloney 24-2 (19) is looking to deliver a dominant performance when he takes on Nawaphon Kaikanha 56-1-1 (46) at Rob Laver Arena in Melbourne, Australia on October 16.
The bout will take place on the undercard of the undisputed lightweight championship clash between Devin Haney and George Kambosos in a rematch of their June bout. The card will also feature Moloney’s twin brother and super flyweight contender Andrew Moloney against Norbelto Jimenez.
“I can’t wait to get back in there, in Melbourne, alongside my brother on one of the biggest shows of the year,” said the 31-year-old Moloney, who is ranked highly by all four major sanctioning bodies. “Thank you as always to Tony Tolj who goes to war for us, our whole training team and of course Top Rank for standing by us and showcasing us at home once again.
“Training has been brilliant, it’s great to fight at home, it just pushes you on the hard days. Fighting in a stadium in your home country with a world title fight on the horizon is what boxing is all about. I couldn’t be more up for this.”
As the number one contender to WBO champion Paul Butler 34-2 (14), Moloney cannot afford to slip up against Thailand’s Kaikanha, 31.
Moloney has come up painfully short in his two world title bids, dropping a razor-thin split decision to Emmanuel Rodriguez for the IBF strap four years ago and being stopped in seven by reigning WBC, WBA and IBF champion Naoya Inoue two years ago.
The have been talks of Inoue facing Butler in a rare four-belt unification bout before moving up to his fourth weight class after winning world titles at junior flyweight, super flyweight and bantamweight.
Moloney, who is also the WBC number one contender, has previously said he would be happy to face Inoue in a rematch, Butler or the next highest ranked challenger if the WBO belt becomes vacant.
“Hopefully I blast my way into a world title fight by getting a win against Kaikanha. He’s a good fighter, I’ve not overlooked him one bit and I have a job to do. I’m highly rated with the WBO and WBC and I would love to fight for one of their world titles soon,” he said.
Moloney is coming off a dominant third-round knockout of former world title challenger Aston Palicte four months ago. On the same card his brother Andrew scored a second-round stoppage of Alexander Espinoza.
“Last time out my brother Andrew both had good performances,” Moloney said. “It was a perfect night, and that’s what we’re both aiming for again, with no doubt being left in the mind of the fans watching that we’re both going into world titles in 2023.”
