Australia’s Jason Moloney has lost his WBO bantamweight world title in frustrating fashion at the Tokyo Dome, falling to local hope Yoshiki Takei via unanimous decision.
Meanwhile fellow Aussie Sam Goodman called out Japan’s Naoya ‘The Monster’ Inoue after the hometown hero copped his first ever knockdown in the opening round against Mexico’s Luiz Nery.
Defending the IBF, WBA, WBC, WBO and Ring super bantamweight world titles Inoue came in a massive favourite and was suddenly in danger.
But he bounced back with a second-round knockdown of Nery and soon took over with his brutal punches resulting in another knockdown in the fifth, and then the KO in the sixth.
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After Inoue spoke to the crowd the unbeaten Goodman entered the ring inside the sold-out, 55,000-seat Tokyo Dome and emerged as the Japanese’s next opponent.
“Either give up the belts, or fight me, let’s get it on,” Goodman said.
Goodman is the IBF mandatory challenger. Inoue said the fight could take place in September.
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Earlier in his ninth pro fight the former kickboxer Takei proved too good for the 33-year-old Moloney, winning 116-111 x2 and 117-110 on the cards.
It was Moloney’s second world title defence after winning it from Vincent Astrolabio in May 2023, then beating Saul Sanchez this past January.
ESPN commentator Joe Tessitore said as Moloney walked to the ring: “He’s defending this title like his life depends on it”.
Moloney was the fortunate beneficiary of an early point deduction for Takei after three low shots in the opening two rounds, though the third appeared to be on the belt.
But otherwise the Japanese former kickboxer was in control of the fight, arguably winning the first four rounds thanks to an advantage on the outside, though the Aussie improved in the fourth.
“There’s gonna have to be a shift in the game plan of Moloney,” the US analyst said on commentary.
Through six rounds Takei had landed 90 punches to 46, with 19 of Moloney’s landed punches coming in the sixth as he desperately tried to break through the contender’s defence.
Moloney’s coaches could be heard “begging” him to show more during the seventh, which he did.
Arguably through eight rounds it was five rounds to three Takei’s way, but he had to deal with the point deduction too.
Moloney proved unable to force Takei into a dangerous situation and while he had a huge 12th round – 71 punches, 29 landed, 26 of them power punches – the final bell saved the home favourite.
The ESPN analyst declared Moloney was “outgunned” by “a far superior boxer”.
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FULL FIGHT CARD
Naoya Inoue (c) def Luis Nery via KO in Round 6 to retain the IBF, WBA, WBC, WBO and Ring super bantamweight world titles
Yoshiki Takei def Jason Moloney (c) via UD, 117-110 and 116-111 x2 to win the WBO bantamweight world title
Takuma Inoue (c) def Sho Ishida via UD to retain the WBA bantamweight world title
Seigo Yuri Akui (c) def Taku Kuwahara via UD to retain the WBA flyweight world title
TJ Doheny def Bryl Bayogos via TKO in Round 4