Super flyweight contender Andrew Moloney 26-3 (16) is planning a big year in 2024.
The 32-year-old Australian got back in the win column with a 10-round unanimous decision win over tough and durable Filipino Judy Flores 13-2 (7) at the Pullman Hotel in Albert Park, Melbourne, Australia last Saturday night.
“It was a good setup at the Pullman hotel in Melbourne, it was a really good night,” Moloney said to ProBox TV. “I really didn’t want to wait until next year to fight again, I just wanted to get back in the ring as soon as possible.
“The lead up was really good, I had a good training camp and I still feel like I’m getting better as a fighter. I know I‘m 33 soon but I still feel like I am improving every camp and I’m getting better with every fight. I still feel like the best is yet to come.
“The performance at the weekend was not as dominating of a performance as I really wanted. He was a tricky opponent. He fought off the back foot and moved quite a lot, so it made it difficult for me to really get to work on him.
“I didn’t take too many big shots, but like all Filipinos he was pretty heavy-handed, so I had to be on my game. He land a few shots, which for me was obviously good coming off a knockout loss. I’ve done some pretty intensive sparring but it is very different to fight night when you go in with the little gloves on.”
It was Moloney’s first fight back since his 12th round knockout loss to young hotshot Junto Nakatani 26-0 (19) in a fight for the vacant WBO belt in Las Vegas, Nevada back in May. The 25-year-old Japanese a southpaw had Moloney on the canvas three times.
“If I’m being honest, there is always that little concern in the back of your mind, ‘can I take the shot?’” Moloney admitted. “Yeah [Flores] caught me with a couple of good shots but I took them real well. I was never dazed or buzzed at all, so that was a real positive.
“I felt really good, extremely fit. I remember getting off my stool for the 10th round and not breathing one bit. I’m just happy to get that win now and get my career back on track. That win should put me back up high within the rankings and get me a shot at the world title in early 2024.”
The super flyweight division is in a state of flux at the moment with a number of 115-pound stars – namely Roman ‘Chocolatito’ Gonzalez, Juan Francisco Estrada and Nakatani – all heading north to bantamweight.
“There is going to be a lot of movement at super fly in the next couple of months I think,” Moloney said. “We’ve got a lot of guys moving up in weight so it will be interesting to see how it all plays out.
“With Nakatani, Estrada and Chocolatito all moving up, I do feel like it is a division that is there for the taking, for a new king of the super flyweight division to take over and I plan on that being me.”
