Jason Moloney monstered by Japanese star, George Kambosos secures title shot at MGM Grand
It was a mixed night for the Aussies at the MGM Grand with underdog Jason Moloney destroyed by a world champion after George Kambosos overcame a surprise judge’s verdict.
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Australian lightweight George Kambosos Jr has secured himself a world title blockbuster on the same day countryman Jason Moloney was KO’d chasing his own gold strap.
Headlining at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, 29-year-old Moloney was knocked out in the seventh round of his bout with Japanese megastar Naoya “The Monster” Inoue.
The Aussie tried gamely to regain his feet after being dropped, however fell again and was eventually taken from the arena via a stretcher, albeit while giving the thumbs up.
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The brave loss came only hours after Kambosos secured his own title shot after earning a split-decision win over Welshman Lee Selby at Wembley Arena, London.
Despite one judge inexplicably awarding the fight to Selby 115-114, the other two scored it in favour of the still undefeated Aussie (19-0) who has now earned a shot at unified lightweight champ Teofimo Lopez.
Only last month, Lopez secured the biggest boxing upset of 2020 when he dethroned the world pound-for-pound king Vasiliy Lomachenko.
After his dominant performance on Sunday, Kambosos said he was hopeful of bringing Lopez to Australia for a stadium fight, either in his hometown of Sydney or in Melbourne.
Moloney never saw the left hook coming 👀 #InoueMoloney pic.twitter.com/4HSDhzrYpi
— ESPN Ringside (@ESPNRingside) November 1, 2020
“I told you I’d do it,” Kambosos said after the win.
“I’m too fast, too strong, too aggressive, too smart, too powerful — everything.
“World No.1, mandatory. Lopez, you know what it is now. Let’s do it Down Under. Two warriors, two lions, let’s go to war. Let’s do it — I want that fight.
“This is a great moment … I’m so happy.
“I’m going to train tonight, I promise you I’m going to train tonight because I want that world title. I’m coming.”
Moloney, meanwhile, was no match for Inoue, who had dominated all seven rounds before finishing the fight with a huge right hand.
Ranked No.3 on the world’s pound-four-pound list, the Japanese star dropped his rival in the sixth with a counter left hand
That prompted referee Kenny Bayless to warn Moloney and his corner that the Aussie needed to respond strongly in the seventh or the fight would be stopped.
Which is what happened, albeit by a monstrous Inoue right hand, which stopped the fight with only one second remaining in the round.
The 27-year-old has now taken his undefeated run to 20 fights, 17 of which have come via KO.
Despite the loss, Moloney will now remain in Las Vegas to help twin brother Andrew prepare for his own WBA junior bantamweight title fight.
Andrew Moloney faces champ Joshua Franco inside the MGM Grand casino on November 15.
The fight will be the co-main event for American superstar Terence Crawford’s welterweight title defence against Kell Brook.
Back in June, Franco (17-1-2) won the title after defeating Moloney (21-1) via unanimous decision, handing the Australian his first professional defeat.
Moloney, who was cornering for his brother in the Inoue fight, had previously started 2020 as Australia’s sole boxing champion.
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