Aussie wins boxing world title in massive boilover

Aussie Jason Moloney has been booed mercilessly by an American crowd after stunning the boxing world with a world title victory.

Jason Moloney is celebrating. Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images.

Aussie Jason Moloney is a world champion.

The 32-year-old stunned the boxing world on Sunday (AEST) with a dominant, majority-decision victory over Vincent Astrolabio in their WBO bantamweight title fight.

Moloney was considered an outsider in the lead up to the fight and was booed by the American crowd at the Stockton Arena in California which had been cheering on Filipino Astrolabio.

Moloney dominated the early rounds and landed 93 jabs throughout the fight.

He continued to throw punches throughout the fight and made a bonkers admission after the fight that he believes he broke his hand in the third or fourth round.

Watch heavyweights Joseph Parker v Faiga ‘Django’ Opelu and the return of Nikita Tszyu LIVE on Main Event available on Kayo & Foxtel, Wednesday 24 May 7PM AEST. ORDER NOW >

Jason Moloney deserves to celebrate. Photo by Kelly Defina/Getty Images.

He was able to keep Astrolabio on the outside and the contest wasn’t even close.

Despite Moloney’s dominance, the San Franciso crowd booed him at the end of the 12th round when he jumped on the ropes to celebrate his performance.

He was booed again when the judges’ scorecards were announced.

Boxing legend Timothy Bradley was furious when the judges cards were announced with one of the judges scoring the fight 114-114.

“They tried to rob him,” Bradley said on ESPN.

Bradley was surprised the crowd had shown Moloney such disrespect.

“They can boo all they want, but you’re a champion young man,” he said.

“You are a champion.”

Boxing commentator Joe Tessitore said on American TV Moloney had put on a “clinic”.

Australia's newest world champion. pic.twitter.com/ZmvdWlXTuW

— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) May 14, 2023

With the energy going out of the fight in the later rounds, the crowd began to boo Moloney, but American boxing Hall of Famer Andre Ward said on the broadcast: “These boos are actually confirmation Moloney is doing exactly what he’s supposed to be doing”.

“He’s keeping the puncher, the explosive and exciting guy, out of the fight. He’s building up points. That’s not exciting for the fans but it’s getting Moloney closer to his dream of winning his first world title.”

Moloney was in another class in the early rounds and was then able to drop his intensity in the championship rounds having been so far ahead.

It’s why one judge’s scorecard in awarding Astrolabio six of the 12 rounds has caused outrage.

Official scorecards #MoloneyAstrolabio 🤦‍♂️ pic.twitter.com/n2wKoBpKRA

— Ben Damon (@ben_damon) May 14, 2023

Moloney won the fight 114-114, 115-113, 116-112 on the judges’ scorecards.

“This was beautiful, brilliant work by Moloney,” Ward said.

“This was a shut-out performance, I believe, for Jason Moloney. There’s no doubt in my mind he won this fight. I don’t see how the judges can take this from him. There was a clear winner here and that was Jason Moloney.”

Moloney’s nexy move remains uncertain, but he is now in-line for a $2 million fight against Nonito Donaire.

Moloney’s twin brother Andrew will next week fight for the WBO junior bantamweight title against Japan’s Junto Nakatani.

Originally published as Aussie wins boxing world title in massive boilover