Christmas Footy Fight Night: All the winners and losers

Banned Wests Tiger Tim Simona was dealt a heavy reality check in his boxing debut as doctors had to call an end to the fight, here is what happened.

Andrew Moloney in action. Picture: No Limit/Gregg Porteous

Dear Helen Mirren,

You’re favourite Aussie fighter is back.

Almost a year to the day since he was robbed of the WBA Super Flyweight title in Las Vegas, 30-year-old Andrew Moloney has punched his way back into title fight contention against Japanese WBO star Kazuto Ioka.

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Up against tough Filipino Froilan Saludar in his Fox Sports headliner at The Star, Moloney completed dominated all 10 rounds against a world class opponent who, despite taking a barrage from the boxer aptly dubbed ‘Monster’, simply refused to hit the canvas.

Andrew Moloney landed blow after blow on Froilan Saludar. Picture: No Limit/Gregg Porteous

Moloney was simply to good for the Filipino. Picture: No Limit/Gregg Porteous

The win also ends a horror run for Australia’s former world champion, who has spent the past 18 months locked in a controversial – and, eventually, unsuccessful – trilogy title push against American Joshua Franco.

A run that saw Moloney not only lose for the first time in his career, then second, but in between get robbed of the title in a horror ‘No Contest’ ruling that prompted an outpouring of support of social media from the likes of Dame Helen, Jeff Fenech, Joe Rogan and Daniel Cormier.

Yet after winning easily on all three judges scorecards, Moloney now wants to challenge Ioka early in 2022.

Banned Wests Tiger Tim Simona gets one in, but was overcome by Aaron Cocco. Picture: No Limit/Gregg Porteous

Elsewhere on the undercard, banned Wests Tigers winger Tim Simona was stopped in the third round of his professional boxing debut against Nelson Bay slugger, Aaron Cocco.

After being rocked and almost stopped in round one, Simona hung in until midway through the third when, from ringside, a doctor blew a whistle to signal the fight stopped.

Simona is hopeful of making a return to the NRL next year after being banned since 2017 for betting on games.

But as for Moloney?

While Ioka defends against countyman Ryoji Fukunaga on New Year’s Eve, Moloney is hopeful that, with a win, the champ will then accept his own title challenge sometime early in 2022.

“This win should move into the top five,” Moloney told The Daily Telegraph. “And from there I’m hoping to get a shot at Ioto 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.”