Two-time world title challenger Jason ‘Mayhem’ Moloney 24-2 (19) is fast closing in on another world title shot following his classy third-round knockout win over Aston Palicte 28-5-1 (23) at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne, Australia on Sunday.
Filipino Palicte, 31, fought Japan’s Kazuto Ioka 28-2 (15) for the vacant WBO super flyweight championship three years ago, losing by 10th round stoppage two years ago. He was down three points on two of the judges’ scorecards.
Moloney, who was having his first hometown fight in more than two-and-a-half years, was clinical against Palicte despite giving up height and reach. The 31-year-old got inside early and made his time in close count, working over Palicte to the head and body.
A well-timed right hand dropped Palicte late in the third and a follow up barrage put him down again, prompting referee Ignatius Missailidis to stop the fight at the 2:35 mark.
According to CompuBox, Moloney landed 56.6% of his power punches.
The fight took place on the undercard of the undisputed lightweight championship fight between George ‘Ferocious’ Kambosos Jr 20-1 (10) and Devin ‘The Dream’ Haney 28-0 (15).
And much like Kambosos, Moloney isn’t afraid to take on the best.
He lost a split decision to then-IBF champion Emmanuel Rodriguez 20-3 (13) in October 2018 and lasted seven rounds against Japanese phenom and current WBA and IBF 118-pound champion Naoya ‘Monster’ Inoue 22-0 (19) in October 2020.
Inoue will take on WBC champion Nonito ‘The Filipino Flash’ Donaire 42-6 (28) in a rematch tonight in Japan.
“I’ll be keeping a close eye on that fight,” Moloney said during Friday’s final pre-fight press conference. “I’m ranked well with all of the sanctioning bodies. I’m ready to become champion, that’s the intention.”
American promoter Bob Arum is backing in Moloney to get the job done.
“As his promoter, we will be working along those lines,” the Top Rank boss said in the post-fight press conference. “But sometimes it’s impossible to make that arrangement.”
“Jason was in with a tough Filipino, these Filipino’s are really good fighters. They get the edge on you, they’re really great front runners and Jason didn’t’ let that happen.
“He took out the opponent. I wasn’t surprised, but he is a real, world-class fighter. He was in with some of the best fighters in the world, he and his brother, and they acquitted themselves extremely well.”
Lou DiBella, who promoted the event but isn’t involved in Moloney’s career, was clearly impressed by Moloney’s performance.
“As someone who’s not his promoter, that was the best he’s ever looked in his career,” DiBella said.
“That was a tremendous performance honestly and against a good fighter. Jason, he keeps getting better.
“He’s ready for that kind of fight now. I don’t think he necessarily was a year ago, but he is now.”
If Moloney can’t get the winner of Inoue-Donaire II, the other option is WBO beltholder Paul Butler 34-2 (15) of the UK.
